Delhi Metro is the Proudest Achievement of Modern India: S Jaipal Reddy

S Jaipal Reddy, Union Minister for Urban Development

S Jaipal Reddy, Union Minister for Urban Development, said that Delhi Metro is the proudest achievement of modern India. He further mentioned that the Ministry has taken some important decisions relating to Urban Transport to help the daily commuters and ease traffic congestion. He was addressing the members of the consultative committee attached to the ministry of Urban Development, to deliberate on Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).

Shri Reddy informed that the Cabinet has approved the Chennai Metro Rail with a total cost of Rs.14,600 crore to be taken up as a Joint Venture between Government of India and the State Government of Tamil Nadu. For Bangalore Metro Rail Project the Union Government sanctioned an extension of 9.3kms. He also mentioned that the Central Government has decided to provide Viability Gap Funding for Line-I of Mumbai Metro corridor from Versova to Ghatkopar via Andheri to the extent of Rs.471 crore. “In principle” approval for Viability Gap Funding of Line-II of Mumbai Metro corridor from Charkop to Mankhurd via Bandra has also been approved amounting to Rs.1532 crore.

Referring to the second Economic Stimulus Package, the Minister stated that the Union Government for the first time decided to fund buses for Urban Transport under JNNURM. A total of 15,260 buses were sanctioned for 61 Mission cities across the country. All these buses would be modern, low floor and semi low floor with various Intelligent Transport System features as per the Urban Bus Specifications formulated by this Ministry.

Mr Reddy stated that the Metro Railway Amendment Act, 2009 has been enacted to amend the Metro Railways (Construction of Works) Act, 1978 and the Delhi Metro (Operation and Maintenance) Act, 2002. These Acts can now be extended to all million plus cities in India. He also said that for the sake of standardization and uniformity in Safety Certification, it has been decided that all Metro Rail Projects, whether within one Municipal area or beyond, shall be taken up only under these Central Acts. These Acts now stand extended to the complete National Capital Region, Metropolitan areas of Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai.