Government gives in-principle approval for six Metro projects

NEW DELHI: The government has given in-principle approval for six Metro rail projects in Delhi (phase-IV), Indore, Bhopal, Kanpur, Agra and Meerut under the New Metro Policy, Union housing and urban affairs secretary Durga Shankar Mishra said on Monday.
The officer told reporters that similar approval have been obtained for the Delhi-Meerut stretch of Rapid Rail Transit System (RRTS).Mishra said now the process of getting financial approval for all the projects from the Public Investment Board (PIB) since these will require certain funding from the Central government. The ministry has already sent the proposal of Delhi-Meerut RRTS to the finance ministry for appraisal.
The secretary said the Centre is committed to expand the Metro rail network in Delhi as the national capital cannot be left to lurch and some way has to be found for laying of phase-IV. He cited that due to Metro rail network in Delhi addition of at least six lakh vehicles have been averted indicating its huge impact on environment and city's roads.
"All the Metro rail projects that have got in-principle approval have been found perfect as per the New Metro Policy," Mishra said. The New Metro Policy mandates certain component of the project will be on public private partnership, which was objected by former Delhi Metro chief E Shreedharan.
Meanwhile, the urban affairs ministry has informally standardised the rolling stock for all future Metro projects, which include the coach width and the configuration of trains with a set of three, six or nine coaches in every train.
The uniform standards published in May also specifes the actual speed and design speed of trains besides the signalling system. The Centre has also sent advisory to Metro Rail firms to procure from domestic players in its bid to push Make in India drive of Modi government.
The government has been pushing for standardisation of products and systems in its bid to reduce cost and increase their production in India.