In a major boost to public transport infrastructure, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved extension of metro rail network from Noida City Centre to Sector-62, which borders Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh.
The total project investment will be Rs 1,967 crore and it will cover 6.675 km length. The new line will be an extension of the Dwarka-Noida City Centre line and is proposed to have six stations.
According to the Central Government, “The trend of urbanisation of Noida is upward. Number of industrial and institutional units is also being established in this city. Noida mainly has road linkages with Delhi and the adjoining areas of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana State. People come for work to Noida from other places and vice versa. These factors will lead to increment of traffic demand and need for an efficient pollution-free mass rapid transport system. Noida is connected by Metro rail and trains are running up to Noida City Centre (Sector 32 Noida). It is proposed to extend the Metro Corridor from Noida City Centre to Noida Sector 62 by a length of 6.675 Km with six stations.”
Addressing reporters, Union law and Justice and Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said it will provide transportation facilities to residents of Noida and surrounding areas.
The project will also result in development of more residential and commercial complexes in the region and also help more to move to the satellite town of Delhi, thus decongesting the national Capital, an official release said.
Once the project got completed, there will be less vehicular traffic on roads leading to less congestion, less time and cost of journey, less consumption of fossil fuel and less environmental pollution, an official release said.
The liability of the Central Government will be to tune of Rs 340. 60 crore on account of grant and subordinate debt for the project, an official release said.
The project will be implemented by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation limited (DMRC), the existing Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) of the Government of India and the Delhi Government. “It will be covered under the legal framework of Central Metro Acts, Metro Railways (Construction of Works) Act, 1978 and the Metro Railways (Operation and Maintenance) Act, 2002, as amended from time to time,” the release stated.
“With the move, resident living in Noida will be greatly benefitted. The population of Noida as per 2011 census is about 6.42 lakh and is expected to grow exponentially in Noida region in the coming years,” it said.
About 800 employees, including engineers, are currently working at the project site and the DMRC has started the procedure for recruitment of around 200 employees for operation and maintenance of this corridor.
“About 81 per cent progress of civil work and 55 per cent of overall financial progress of the project have been achieved,” the release said.