Uttarakhand has signed an MoU with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) for the preparation of a detailed project report on the Haridwar-Rishikesh-Dehradun metro rail plan. The MoU was signed in the presence of the Chief Minister at the Bijapur guest house here on Tuesday. The Uttarakhand Housing and Urban Development Authority (UHUDA) chief administrator R Meenakshi Sundaram and DMRC (Management) director, Somdatt Sharma signed the memorandum.
According to official information, for the purpose of preparing the DPR, in the initial phase a sum of Rs 2.10 crore will be provided by the UHUDA to DMRC. The corporation will draft its initial report in one month after which the complete DPR is to be presented in a period of five months. Speaking on the occasion, chief minister Harish Rawat said that operation of a metro rail service on the Haridwar-Rishikesh-Dehradun route will provide a conveniently accessible means of public transport especially for the urban populace in this region. Tourists arrive throughout the year in Haridwar, Rishikesh and Dehradun, said the chief minister, while also referring to the benefit the metro rail service will facilitate for the tourists apart from the local populace. The chief minister further stated that steps will be taken towards the operation of metro rail service on the Dehradun to Vikasnagar-Kalsi circuit and on the circuit connecting towns in the Kumaon region including Jaspur, Kashipur, Rudrapur, Kichha, Haldwani and Kathgodam. After submission of the DPR by the DMRC, avenues will be sought for securing funds for this metro rail project, added Rawat. Various officials of UHUDA, Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority and others were also present on the occasion.