From the inauguration of the Kolkata metro in the eighties to the current scenario where a dozen of Indian cities are all set to have metro routes of their own, the rapid transit system in the country has come a long way indeed. It won’t be long before people in the emerging urban hubs of the country, dubbed small towns so far, would have access to one of the fastest transport modes in the world. Keeping such considerations in mind, here is a sneak peek into the seven emerging metro routes of the country.
Jaipur; Rs 1,250 crores
With the rapid development of Jaipur as an industrial and commercial hub, the transport network within the city was found to be under stress. This prompted the government to propose the idea of building Jaipur metro. DMRC, the body responsible for the development and upkeep of Delhi metro, was asked to conduct a feasibility study.
On 1st January, 2010, the Jaipur Metro Rail Corporation was established. The East-West corridor of the Jaipur Metro is expected to cost around Rs 1250 crore. While Rs 600 crore is slated to come from the state government, the rest would be borne by state urban development and housing departments. As of January 2012, 45 % work for the phase I has been completed.
Kochi; Rs 5,146 crores
The Kochi metro is expected to cost an estimated of Rs 5,146 Crore. The DMRC or the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation was initially signed up for drawing the DPR of the Kochi metro, some eight years back. The project has since then suffered major setbacks due to the Union Government’s doubts about the economic viability of the Kochi metro.
The state Government of Kerala had sought financial help from the Central Government, a request which was blatantly refused by the latter. The rivalry between the UPA government at the center and the LDF government in Kerala, was thought to be the major reason behind the unnecessary delays. With the change in the Kerala Government, however, the Kochi metro has become one of the top priorities for the succeeding UDF Government.
Ludhiana; Rs 6,600 crores
After a detailed feasibility study conducted by the DMRC for one and a half years, the Ludhiana metro is now a dream inching its way towards reality. The Ludhiana Metro project, spread across a network of fourteen stations, is expected to cost around Rs 6, 600 Crores.
The metro railway in Ludhiana will cover a sum total of 29 kilometers. The overhead network comes around to 22 kilometers. The under ground, on the other hand, will cover a distance of seven kilometers. The ticketing system is expected to be on line with the mechanism applied by Delhi Metro authorities.
Pune: Over Rs 10,000 crores
The Pune Metro railway is a project which tentatively covers the city of Pune and its adjoining areas. The project, undertaken by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, is expected to cover a total area of 82 kilometers.
Three prospective routes have already been identified by the DMRC. While the initial plans were mainly targeted at creating more overhead and lesser underground routes, it was later decided keeping in mind Pune’s current traffic scenario, that all routes in the city would be underground. The first line in the Pune metro route will run from Pimpri-Chinchwad to Swargate.
Lucknow; Rs 7,413 crores
The Lucknow metro, which is expected to cost something around Rs 7,413 Crores as of now, includes three corridors: the East-West, North-South and the Gomti Nagar Link. The initial plans for the project, slated to be operated by the LMRC or Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation Limited, started in 2009.
A series of soil sampling surveys were performed before the soil condition in Lucknow could be declared feasible for Metro rail. The East-West and North-South corridors will integrate at the Lucknow Railway Station. The issue of integrating the Metro Line with the Airport is under consideration by the Government.
Mumbai; Rs 36,000 crores
The Mumbai Metro Railway project is designed specifically to reduce the traffic congestion in the city. One of the biggest railway projects in the country till date, the metro will be built in three phases over a period spanning fifteen years. The project is being executed by the Mumbai Metro One Private Limited.
The first phase of the Mumbai Metro Project was inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in June, 2006. The first line of Phase I is expected to get over by 2012. The Mumbai Suburban Railway which carries an estimated 6.94 million passengers everyday, is the most preferred transport option in the financial capital of India. The rapid-transit system plan was proposed in the wake of excessive pressure on the Suburban Railway system.
Patna; Rs 8,000 crores
The Patna Metro project received the Planning commission’s stamp of approval on September, 2011. The metro rail is slated to be introduced on 2 routes. The Patna metro rail, which is being built under a public-private partnership mode, would initially run between Patna and Danapur. In the second phase, the services will be extended to Digha, twenty kilometers from Patna.
