The much hyped first metro project in the state-the Ludhiana Metro-is likely to be delayed indefinitely. The Punjab government in a communication to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has desired that the cost of the project be cut down and the Metro be kept overground rather than underground, after the corporation submitted the detailed project report to the government.

Sources said that some time ago the DMRC had submitted a detailed project report (DPR) of the Ludhiana Metro to the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB). In the report it was stated that a light metro rail should be adequate to meet not only the current traffic needs but of the coming 20 to 25 years. This light metro will traverse a total 29 km and will have 29 railway stations, as after every kilometer there will be a station. It will have two corridors; Ayali Chowk to BBMB Power House (15.79 km) and from Gill village to Rahon Road Chungi.

The total cost of the project was estimated at Rs 10,516 crore and was to be operational by 2014. As of the 29 km track, some 12 km was to be kept underground while the rest would remain overground, stated the DPR.

Sources said that after receiving the DPR, PIDB wrote back to the DMRC telling it bring the project cost down which, the former felt, too expensive. It also suggested that the Ludhiana Metro be run only overground as it would held in cutting the costs. As per kilometer construction of railway underground works out to be more than overground. It said that the proposed Hyderabad Metro project was also overground.

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