To reduce traffic congestion and air pollution due to modal shift from personal motor vehicles to public transport, the Union Budget 2018-19 has proposed Rs 15,000 crore for 190 kms of metro rail network across the country, a reduction of nearly 20 per cent from the allocation in the previous budget. The budget also proposed a grant of Rs 50 crore to the Delhi Metro for its expansion into NCR areas. The allocation for metro projects for 2017-18 was Rs 17,810 crore and for expansion into NCR areas, the DMRC was granted Rs 150 crore.
Allocating of Rs 15000 crore in the union budget, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said infrastructure is the “growth driver” of the economy and urbanisation is the Government’s “opportunity and priority”. As per plan, approximately 190 kms metro rail network is expected to be commissioned for the public in the year 2018-19.
The project which is expected to be commissioned this year include 114 kms of Delhi Metro, 15.5 kms of Chennai metro, 12.80 kms of Bengalore metro, 6.3 kms of Ahmedabad metro, 11.7 kms of Nagpur metro and 29.70 kms of Noida and Greater Noida metro rail.
According to budget document, for the remaining 343 kms various works under civil, electrical and signaling are in advance stage. The phase two of the civil works is to started in all four extension of the Bengalore metro. However, the budget document did not provide a break-up for the individual projects like those being executed by the Delhi Metro.
This year, the pass through assistance such that loan amount provided by external agencies, has been pegged at Rs 10,373 crore while the equity investment figure stands at Rs 2,341 crore. According to the DMRC, the sanctioned cost for the Phase III project, which includes extension to Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, stands at Rs 44,816.91 crore.
Delhi Metro has recently sent a detailed project reports to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs for its three metro corridors under the fourth phase projects for approval. The third phase of metro has already delayed while the work on fourth phase of metro should have been started in 2016.
The new Metro Rail Policy 2017 states that private participation either for complete provisioning of metro rail or for some unbundled components will form an essential requirement for all metro rail project proposals seeking Central financial assistance.
Officials said that after the new metro policy, the Ministry is expected fewer proposal for metro rail connectivity. Under the new law, getting approval from the Ministry will be tough and the policy discourages the new proposals of metro rails.