Title - RAIL NEWS CENTER: Punjab puts Ludhiana metro project on fast track

Giving a push to the much-awaited Ludhiana Metro project, the Punjab government today appointed the Ludhiana Commissioner as the Managing Director of the prestigious project.

Presiding over a high-level review meeting here, Badal said the state government was committed to bring an end to the traffic snarls in Ludhiana by ensuring completion the Rs 10,300 crore project in a time period of five years.

Badal also asked the officials to ensure there is "minimal displacement of people" during the land acquisition process for the project.

"We must lay emphasis on executing the underground Metro corridor, especially in densely populated areas, even though it would be quite capital-intensive as compared to fully or partly elevated corridor," Badal was quoted as saying by an official spokesperson.

 During the meeting, it was informed that 15.798 kilometre-long Corridor-I of of the project will run from Ayali Chowk on Ferozepur Road to BBMB Power House on the Chandigarh Road and will have total 14 stations -- 10 elevated and four underground, the spokesperson said.

Similarly, Corridor-II, spanned over a distance of 13.035 kilometres, will connect Gill village and Rahon Road octroi post. This corridor will have 13 stations -- six elevated and seven underground, he said.

The Punjab government had already decided to appoint Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) as its official consultant for the project and the Ludhiana Metro Rail Corporation will be established to coordinate for execution of the project, he said.