Title - Nagpur Metro rail DPR by mid-October

The work on the preparing the detailed project report (DPR) of Nagpur metro rail is reportedly going in full swing and is expected to be completed by mid-October. The DMRC had started the actual surveys from May to done in five types: junction, screen line, outer cordon, parking and door-to-door. The surveys were completed by July.

SD Sharma, executive director (civil) of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), told a national daily that the deadline would be met and there were no glitches in preparation of the report. DMRC was given the contract to prepare the DPR by Nagpur Improve Trust (NIT), which is the nodal agency for the project, in February.

The DPR is being prepared on the basis of information gathered through these surveys. DMRC will recommend the routes to be taken up in the first phase. The agency will also decided the stretches where the railway will be elevated, underground or at ground level and calculate the tentative cost of first phase.

The DPR will also have the location of metro rail stations, amenities to be provided in these stations and feeder bus services, besides other aspects of this mass rapid transport system (MRTS). It will also suggest a financial model for the making the project viable.

State government had announced the metro rail route last year. Earlier, in 2002 L&T Ramboll had prepared a DPR. However, the project will be implemented on the basis of the DMRC report.

State government has decided to create a special purpose vehicle for implementing the project. The project will be financed by Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT), Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC) and the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO). These organizations will take long term soft loans from international agencies to raise the funds.