RailEnquiry

LUCKNOW: A high-level committee headed by chief secretary Jawed Usmani has proposed to roll out the Metro rail in Lucknow on a 50:50 sharing of funds between the Central government and UP. The same finance model has been used in Delhi Metro project. The estimated cost of the project would be around Rs 1,800 crore. The committee that met on Friday, apart from making recommendations on the finance and the Metro route, also approved the report prepared by the special Metro cell and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) officials. Usmani also directed for forming a special purpose vehicle (SPV) - to be christened as Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation - on an urgent basis for implementation of the project.A lot of effort and brainstorming has been put in by the Metro cell, headed by housing secretary Rajiv Agarwal, while preparing the report. The process included repeated attempts to review the proposed routes, revisions of the route map and selecting the most feasible financial model. The report would now be sent to the state cabinet for final nod.

Usmani has approved construction of the North South corridor (from Amausi to Munshi Pulia) in the first phase. The approved route makes provision for about 3-km stretch of underground track from Charbgah up to Hazratganj, which would bring down the construction cost by about Rs 1,000 crore.

Earlier, the route proposed 7 km of underground railway track from Mawaiyya till Lucknow University. Taking into consideration the new developing areas of Gomtinagar, Usmani has asked the Metro cell to review the plan of constructing a Gomtinagar Metro link too. This Metro link is proposed from HAL to Patrakarpuram in Gomtinagar.

The committee also gave a nod to conducting a techno-feasibility study by the DMRC on Tulsidas Road, Subhash Marg and Mill Road for running Metro rail in these areas. Usmani emphasised on speeding up the process of Metro as it's a dream project of SP government and has been given much impetus in the 2013-14 state budget.

On the proposal of developing Metro line on the outskirts in the wake of extensive development taking place there, Usmani sought a techno-feasibility report from the DMRC on a 42-km stretch on city's periphery in the first phase of the project.

He also instructed to send a proposal to the Union government on the recommendations of the urban development ministry for adoption of The Metro Railways (construction of works) Act 1978, amended in 2009, and Metro Railway (operation and maintenance) Act 2002.

To identify alternative sources for funding the Metro project, the chief secretary has directed for formation of a sub-committee headed by secretary, housing and urban planning, and president of the Metro cell. The sub-committee would prepare a report on probable income sources to sustain the operational cost and would submit it within a month to the committee.

Officials hinted at probable sources of additional income like increasing stamp duty of properties falling within 500 metres of Metro on both sides or allowing more number of floors in buildings to attract builders. Since most of the places are already developed, officials are proposing vertical development to attract more builders to pump in money on the Metro stretch.

Officials said the government is keen on the project and the ground work may begin in next 8-9 months.