UP plans Metro rail for three more cities

“Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP) is under preparation for Allahabad and Kanpur. Agra also has to get its CMP prepared,” said Arun Kumar Sinha,Principal Secretary,Housing and Urban Planning department.

The three cities are covered under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission,which means that CMP has to be prepared for these towns.  

The state urban development department has appointed Urban Mass Transit Company Limited,New Delhi,to prepare the CMP for the UP towns covered under JNNURM.  

The Agra Development Authority (ADA) plans to run the Metro in three stretches — Sikandara to Trident Hotel via Raja Ki Mandi; Sikandara to

Gautam Buddha Park and Gautam Buddha Park to Trident Hotel.  

“The total length of these stretches would be 45 km and the project is estimated to cost Rs 100 crore per km,” said Udayee Ram,Secretary of ADA.

“Agra is a tourism destination and traffic density is increasing here. We believe the Metro will be required here after 10 years. The project would take at least five years and hence we need to start work on it from today,” said Ram.

Vice-chairman of Kanpur Development Authority (KDA) Ram Swaroop said: “KDA has informed the government that the CMP for Kanpur is under preparation and the viability of the project and its corridors would be finalised after the CMP is prepared.”

“The officials from Agra,Kanpur and Allahabad were primarily called to witness the progress made in the Metro project in Ghaziabad and Lucknow,” Swaroop said.

Vice-chairman of Allahabad Development Authority A K Singh said: “We have tied up with a Nagpur-based consultant to prepare the CMP for Allahabad.” “Allahabad is surrounded by rivers from three sides and prima facie these geographical conditions do not allow for a Metro project here. We will propose for Metro rail only if the consultant recommends its requirement in Allahabad,” Singh said.

“Separate meetings will soon be convened for detailed discussion on the status and progress of the Metro project in Ghaziabad and Lucknow,” said an official.