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

Shri S.Jaipal ReddyJaipal 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, here today 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 9.3 kms. 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. These buses will transform the urban bus transport scene across India, he added. Highlighting the success of JNNURM, he stated that projects worth Rs.95,500 crores have already been sanctioned for various projects like solid waste management, Water Supply,Sewerage projects and Storm water drainage. Response of the states and Urban Local Bodies in developing infrastructure through JNNURM has necessitated more funds to be allocated to the mission.

The Minister informed the members that Four Centres of Excellence in the field of Urban Transport have been sanctioned from amongst the premier institutions of the country. They are IIT-Delhi, IIT-Chennai, CEPT-Ahmedabad and NIIT - Warangal. He further said that New Scheme of Capacity Building in Urban Transport was sanctioned very recently which will support training, education, institutional strengthening, setting up of Urban Transport Cell and Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority for various cities. This scheme envisages 100% funding by Government of India, he added.

Shri 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.

The Minister informed that Delhi Metro has commissioned Vishwavidayalaya - Jahangirpuri (6.36 kms) of corridor on 4th Feb,09 and Indraprashtha - Yamuna Bank Section of Indraprastha - New Ashok Nagar corridor on 10th May,2009. NOIDA extension is also scheduled to be commissioned within a week. He said that the works on balance corridors are progressing satisfactorily and expected to be completed before the Commonwealth Games, 2010.

Most of the members appreciated the commendable work done by the DMRC. Some members suggested that fares for Metro ride should be cheaper. A Member from Lok Sabha advised that there should be facility of free drinking water and toilets at all Metro stations. It was informed that all Metro Stations are having the facility of toilets and paid drinking water is available. A member from Rajya Sabha suggested that huge amount which is being spent on Delhi Metro Rail could have been diverted to Urban Railways to facilitate the other urban passengers.

A detailed presentation on DMRC was made by Shri E.Shreedharan, Managing Director, DMRC on Delhi MRTS project phase-I, Delhi MRTS projects phase-II, Extension of Delhi Metro Phase-II to Gurgaon, high speed express link from New Delhi Railway Station to IGI Airport, financing plan, and benefits of phase-I etc. The MD, DMRC informed the members that Delhi Metro has become the first Railway project in the world to be registered by the United Nations under the clean development mechanism which will enable it to claim carbon credits. He also mentioned that Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) has carried out a study which says that the annual cost saved by Metro passengers on account of reduced travel time will go up three times from Rs.310.13 crore in 2007 to Rs.947.07 crore in 2009. The other benefits of phase-I of Delhi Metro project are as under :-

„« Fuel cost saving: The annual saving on account of reduced fuel consumption will be Rs.180.89 crore in 2009, more than double from Rs.73.22 crore two years ago.

„« Number of vehicles off the road : Since the Metro began operations in December 2002, there has been a progressive reduction in daily vehicle demand due to the people shifting to Metro for commuting. In 2009, the Metro will take the daily share of 57,953 vehicles for all other modes of travel such as cars, buses, two-wheelers, auto-rickshaws, etc.

„« Vehicle cost saving : The annual vehicle (capital and operating) cost saving will almost triple from Rs.93.21 crore in 2007 to Rs.276.24 crore this year.

„« Reduction in emission of greenhouse gases : The increasing use of the Metro will result in prevention of emission of 131,395.34 tonnes of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide from being emitted into Delhi¡¦s atmosphere upto 2009. This is a five-time increase from 27,614.34 tonnes in 2007.

„« Emission cost saving : The emission cost saving will also increase almost three times from Rs.14.29 crore in 2007 to Rs.41.04 crore in 2009.

„« Number of Road accidents avoided : The Metro will help avoid a total of 255 accidents, including 51 fatalities, in 2009. In 2007, the respective figures were 196 and 21.

Shri C.M.Chane, Shri Ramesh Kumar, Shri P.Kumar, Shri Jagdish Singh Rana, Shri Sanjay Dina Patil, Shri Prahlad V.Joshi, Shri Shiv Kumar C Udasi and Shri Cheluvarayaswamy from Lok Sabha attended the meeting . Shri Penumalli Madhu, Shri Manohar JoshiManohar Joshi, Shri Nand Kumar Sai, Shri Surendra Motilal Patel from Rajya Sabha participated in the discussion. (EOM)