Metro Rail project will start in time: Akhilesh

Lucknow, Aug 18: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav exuded confidence that the ambitious Lucknow Metro Rail project, to ease traffic and transportation problem of the state capital, would start in time.

On the occasion of the release of 'Development Agenda of UP 2013-2014', the chief minister said, "After the Lucknow project, which is a priority of the state government, projects for other cities would be taken up."

Yadav, who was presented the model of the proposed project, also said the funds for the extension of metro in Ghaziabad has been arranged.

Principal Secretary of the Housing and Urban Planning department Sadakant said details of the project were being worked out diligently so that the first phase of the Rs 6,757 crore project could be started by the targeted date of December, 2013.

All efforts are being made to obtain necessary approvals and financial sanction from the Centre, he said, adding that operations are expected to commence in December, 2016.

A modified Detailed Project Report (DPR) had been approved by the high-powered committee headed by the Chief Secretary, Sadakant said.

The constitution of the Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation (LMRC) is underway with the memorandum and articles of the association having been prepared, he said.

To expedite the work, an interim consultant is required to prepare detailed designs for which two specialist agencies -- RITES and DMRC -- have been asked to submit proposals, the Principal Secretary said, adding that the interim consultant would be selected by the end of this month.

DMRC is working on the depot design for north-south corridor of the first phase, he said.

The underground portion of the north-south corridor had been reduced from 7.5 km to approximately 3.5 km from Charbagh to Hazratganj, Sadakant said, adding that 22 stations are proposed in the first phase, out of which 3 stations are underground and 19 elevated.

An estimated 6.45 lakh passengers will use this corridor in the year 2020.

The peak hour peak direction traffic (PHPDT) of this corridor is estimated to be 20,976 in 2020.

One rake would consist of six coaches with a passenger carrying capacity of 1,574.

Initially, the train will run at an interval of 7 to 14 minutes but with the increase in traffic, the interval will be reduced to 2 to 4 minutes.

PTI