Noida Authority, DMRC sign agreement to extend Metro to Noida

Noida, Apr 4 (UNI) The Noida Authority and the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) today signed the formal agreement to extend the ongoing Delhi Metro Rail project to the satellite township at a cost of over Rs 700 crore.

The agreement was signed by the Noida Authority Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sanjeev Saran and DMRC Project Director C B K Rao.

The total cost of the seven-kilometer rail line from New Ashok Nagar to Sector 32 has been estimated at Rs 736 crore. A sum of Rs 611 crore has been apportioned for the metro rail network, Rs 32 crore for the land and Rs 93 crore for the rolling stock, Mr Saran said.

While the cost of rolling stock would be borne by the DMRC, the Noida Authority would foot the land cost, he added.

On the cost of the metro network, Mr Saran said it had earlier been agreed that 15 per cent of the cost would be borne by the Urban Development Ministry and the rest by the Noida Authority, but the Noida Authority was insisting the Centre increase the percentage from 15 to 20.

The other related matters, including supply of electricity, had already been agreed upon. Once the line was opened for traffic, the entire responsibility would go to the DMRC, Mr Saran said.

Between New Ashok Nagar and Sector 32 City Centre, there will be stations at Sector 15, Sector 3, Sector 18, National Botanical Garden, Noida Golf Course at a distance of 0.958 km, 1.164 km, 1.121 km, 1.435 km and 1.289 km respectively, he said.

The work on the line will be completed by June 2009 before the Commonwealth Games slated in 2010, Mr Rao said.

UNI MV PK HS1553