How metro rail networks are spreading across India

In the last three years, from 2014-2017, the urban development ministry sanctioned Rs30,653.78 crore, out of which only Rs12,345.33 crore was released to various metro rail companies in the country. Photo: Ajay Aggarwal/Hindustan Times

New Delhi: The metro rail network in the country is increasing with the mass rapid transit system emerging as one of the best solutions for urban transportation. Even as eight metro rail networks covering a length of 370 km are operational in the country, over two dozen more projects are lined up.

Out of the two dozen projects, around 15 are lined up with the urban development ministry. The cities that have lined up their plans include Pune, Nagpur, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Vijayawada, Kozhikode, Indore, Bhopal, Patna, Guwahati, Kanpur and Varanasi.

A senior urban ministry official, on the condition of anonymity, said, “Success of Delhi-NCR metro brought enthusiasm in the state governments and they want to replicate the same in the cities with population of over 1 million. We are getting a lot of proposals and many of the state governments are also looking at public-private partnership (PPP) since urban transportation is a state subject.” He added that Central assistance is given only to projects which are feasible.

 

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