Kochi Metro

Kochi Metro is a small project with only one line of 26km costing Rs 51.5bn. The foundation stone of the project was laid in 2012 and construction work is already in full swing. The project had earlier been under the limelight for all the wrong reasons – from the role of DMRC (which was eventually approved as the body executing the project) to retendering of rolling stocks contract (after only one bidder remained in the final round). Putting all that behind, the metro is expected to begin operations by 2017 – linking 23 stations through the most congested parts of the city.

Pune Metro

In August 2008, DMRC had submitted the DPR for Pune Metro, but it was approved by the Maharashtra government only in 2012. Last year, the centre had also given its approval for the project. However, due to opposition from local residents and political parties for the line-2 being elevated, the layout is now being revised to realign line-2 – this is expected to delay the project even further.

A revised DPR for the Rs 136bn phase-1 of the Pune metro is now being prepared by the DMRC – which has been the its principal consultant ever since the project was envisaged.Phase-1 is to consist of two lines

• Line 1 – 16.5km – from Chinchwad to Swargate – 75% elevated, 25% underground
• Line 2 – 14.9km – from Vanaz to Ramwadi – completely elevated.

Kanpur: Phase-1 of the metro is being planned to be 26km – from IIT Kanpur to Naubasta (via railway station). The DPR has already been prepared and EPC bids for the project are expected to be called in mid-2016.

Varanasi: Phase 1 is being planned to be 12.5km – from Sarnath to BHU (via Kotwali). Currently, DPR is in late stages of completion. Work on the project has been expedited on request from the PMO (Varanasi being PM’s constituency). Ordering is expected to begin towards 2016 end.

Agra: Phase-1 is planned to be 16km – from Cantt Railways Station to TYC-Phase-2. Currently, DPR is being prepared.

Merrut: Phase-1 is planned to be 13.5km – from Partapur to Merrut Cantt (via railways station road). Currently, DPR is being prepared.

Chandigarh

Chandigarh is the last city that you would imagine ‘needing’ a metro network. It is the only planned city in the country, with clearly segregated zones and controlled development, areas called ‘sectors’ rather than ‘-purs’ and ‘-ganjs’, with most junctions having a round-about rather than a traffic light. However, such is the frenzy of joining the metro bandwagon, that the state governments of Punjab and Haryana have chalked out a plan to build a 37km long metro network in the city. The DPR (revised multiple times) of the project was submitted by the DMRC in October 2015. Interestingly, there would be four stakeholders in this metro project – the govt of India, the union territory, and the state governments of Punjab and Haryana (Chandigarh is a UT and state capital of both Punjab and Haryana). It promises to be a long and messy affair!

Ludhiana

The Ludhiana Metro is in the early development stage, with its DPR recently approved. The DMRC was appointed to prepare the DPR in 2007, which was finally approved by the Punjab cabinet in June 2011. The total project cost, for the 29km two-corridor metro is estimated to be Rs 87bn. In its DPR, the DMRC has advised the use of light metro rail (LRT), which it deems adequate to meet the traffic needs over the next 20-25 years.

Two Metros planned in MP – Indore and Bhopal

Both Indore and Bhopal metros are in very nascent stages of development.In May 2013, external consultants were appointed by the MP government to prepare detailed project reports for the MRTS of the two cities. Based on the multi-criteria analysis and recommendations of consultants, the state government approved the inception reports prepared by the consultant in June 2014. As on December 2014, geotechnical surveys and formation of the companies are being carried on for the implementation of the projects.