Following the pre-feasibility study for metro rail, the Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) has asked the project consultant to explore the option of light Rail Transit (lRT) on the Dehradun-Haridwar-Rishikesh route. The metro rail project is presently in the conceptual stage with the initial survey by the consultant company focusing on the Dehradun-Haridwar-Rishikesh corridor.
According to MDDA officials, out of the three options of metro rail, mono rail and lRT, considering factors including cost, environmental concerns in this environmentally sensitive corridor, geography and expected ridership, lRT is being considered the more feasible option. Whereas the cost of setting up monorail would amount to about Rs200 crore per kilometre, the cost for setting up lRT would amount to about Rs50 crore per kilometre.
Another feature of lRT being considered suitable is that its track would be constructed on the central verge of the highway. The track would be about four metres wide. The tentative list of stations on the Dehradun-Haridwar-Rishikesh corridor includes Selaqui, Nanda ki Chowki, Forest Research Institute or Ballupur, near the Dehradun Railway Station, Haridwar bypass, Rispana, Jogiwala, Mohkampur, Harrawala, Ranipokhri, IDPl, Nepali Farm, Raiwala, Natraj Chowk, Shantikunj, Dhudhadhari and Har ki Pauri among others.
Following a presentation on the metro rail made at the MDDA on Friday, the officials stated that at present, the project is in the conceptual stage. The consultant has been directed to freeze the technical option exploring the option of lRT. In the initial survey, using 2015 as the baseline year, the the potential ridership on this corridor has been found to be about 6,000 persons per hour during the peak hours. The lRT would have provision of about 40 persons in a wagon and if needed there will be provision for adding wagons to accommodate higher numbers of commuters. The MDDA is working with the involvement of the National Highways Authority of India and Haridwar Police among others on this project. The NHAI has been asked to engage itself more in this project.