The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs assured Jharkhand of Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) which is Metro Neo project in Ranchi.

Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs Secretary Durga Shankar Mishra on a visit to the State on Friday assured to propose a Metro-Neo project for Ranchi. The Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) aims to provide a comfortable, rapid, energy-efficient and less noisy transport medium. Metro-Neo service will comprise electric coaches with a length of 18 to 25 metres, it will have a capacity to carry 180 to 240 passengers at a time.

Recently in the Union Budget, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had said that two new technologies - MetroLite and MetroNeo will be deployed to provide metro rail systems at a much lesser cost in Tier 2 cities and peripheral areas of Tier 1 cities too.

Mishra on his visit also reviewed the ongoing Central schemes of Urban Development and Housing Department at the State Secretariat Project Building. Mishra said that the urban population in Country is growing at a fast pace and it will double in the next three decades, so in view of this growing population, we will have to make rapid efforts towards urbanization.

Mishra expressing satisfaction over the progress of various schemes said that Jharkhand has always been among the leading states in the mission-driven schemes, we need to accelerate the pace of implementation by keeping it intact.

On this occasion, Vinay Kumar Choubey, Secretary, State Urban Development and Housing Department, discussed the progress of ongoing development schemes in the state stating that there should be no delay in the implementation of schemes. Mishra also reviewed works of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, PM Swanidhi Yojana and Din Dayal Antyodaya Yojana.

Director of Urban Administration Directorate Vijaya Jadhav informed the Union Secretary about the progress schemes through a powerpoint presentation. The Union Secretary suggested that the light house project which is going on in Jharkhand should be completed on time so that it becomes a model for other states. The Union Secretary also suggested that under the PM Swanidhi scheme, there should be an effort to connect street vendors with Swiggy and Zomato.

Mishra also reviewed the ongoing projects under the Amrut scheme in seven cities of Jharkhand. Director of State Urban Development Agency Amit Kumar gave detailed information about Amrit Yojana and Swachh Bharat Mission Scheme to Union Secretary through a powerpoint presentation.

Mishra said that it is necessary that some more cities should be included in the list of ODF ++ in the cleanliness rankings, along with that the state level rankings will be maintained in the direction of cleanliness.

Director of Ranchi Smart City Corporation, Amit Kumar gave detailed information about the smart city project being developed with world class facilities on 656 acres of land in Ranchi and informed that the schemes of Command Control and Communication, Public Bicycle Sharing System has been inaugurated. He also informed that the work of Integrated Infrastructure is going on fast and the plan for 24-hour electricity water is in its final stages.