Rail Analysis: Please tell us more about the new updates on the progress of Lucknow Metro along with the Phase 1-B and Phase 2?
Shri Kumar Keshav: We have sent the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of Phase 2 i.e. East-West Corridor of Lucknow Metro (now Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation) to the Central Government and are waiting for its approval.
“Lucknow Metro completes the work of 177 meter long balanced cantilever
bridge over river Gomti for providing ‘Metro’ connectivity to the ‘Cis’ & ‘Trans’ Gomti region of Lucknow”
Rail Analysis: In reference to the Lucknow Metro, what are the complications which came in the construction of the North-South corridor? What makes it unique in comparison to East-West corridor?
Shri Kumar Keshav: The North-South and East-West Corridors of Lucknow Metro (now Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation) are quite different from each other in various constructional and geological aspects as the North-South Corridor of Lucknow Metro is around 23 km long comprising 21 Metro Stations ie 17 Elevated and 4 Underground.
If we take a look at the proposed framework/layout of the East-West Corridor extending from Charbagh to Vasantkunj, it is 11 km long comprising 7 Underground and 4 Elevated Metro Stations covering the busiest marketplace, commercial and residential areas of the city of Lucknow.
Rail Analysis: What was the expected timeline for Lucknow Metro from Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport Metro Station to Munshi Pulia Metro Station?
Shri Kumar Keshav: The expected timeline of Lucknow Metro from Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport Metro Station to Munshi Pulia Metro Station was 4 years 6 months. However, the Lucknow Metro Project of 23 km long North-South Corridor (Phase 1A) from CCS Airport to Munshipulia was completed much earlier ahead of its schedule in a time frame of less than four and a half years.The most noteworthy feature of this accomplishment is that the construction work of the Lucknow Metro project was completed 36 days before the stipulated deadline.
Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport Metro Station
The Lucknow Metro Project has arguably earned the distinction of fastest constructed, executed and implemented Metro Rail Project across all the contemporary Metro Projects of the country within the allocated/sanctioned budget. Lucknow Metro (now Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation) has emerged as an epitome of excellence in the field of Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) in the country.
“ Currently we are focusing on Kanpur and Agra Metro Projects and the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of rest of the projects is under process ”
Rail Analysis: Now that UPMRCL is officially incharge of the New Metro projects in UP , Please let us know the complete role of the organization along with your team’s journey from Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation to the new company-Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation?
Shri Kumar Keshav: Our organization will work as a nodal body for the implementation and execution of all the upcoming Metro Projects in the state of Uttar Pradesh like Kanpur Metro Project, Agra Metro Project, etc.
Rail Analysis: In reference to all the Uttar Pradesh Metro Projects, what are the cities and the new projects you are handling and what is the master plan and the expected timeline in reference to their respective corridors, depots, rolling stock, stations and multi stations?
Shri Kumar Keshav: In context of Kanpur Metro Project, RITES prepared Detailed Project Project (DPR) in coordination with LMRC (now UPMRCL) as per New Metro Rail Policy, 2017 in order to strengthen the transport system of Kanpur city. DPRs were approved by GoUP for implementation on Equity Sharing Model and submitted to Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, GoI for approval as on 24th January, 2018.
Kanpur metro civil construction commences on 15th November 2019
The project was subsequently approved by the Govt. of India on 9th March, 2019. Kanpur Metro Rail Corporation is a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) now jointly owned by the Government of India (GoI) and Government of Uttar Pradesh (GoUP) after its clearance from the Public Investment Board (PIB) on 6th February, 2019. The Union Cabinet had also ratified and approved this project on 28th February, 2019.
The proposed Corridors of Kanpur Metro Project are as follows :
- IIT to Naubasta Corridor
- Agriculture University to Barra-8 Corridor
Uttar Pradesh Metro Foundation Ceremony
In the first phase of the project, the IIT to Naubasta Corridor is being undertaken with a total length of approx. 23.8 km comprising 22 Metro Stations while in the second phase a route length of 8.6 km from Agriculture University to Barra-8 Corridor comprising 4 Elevated and 4 Underground Metro Stations would be constructed.
The stretch from IIT Kanpur to Moti Jheel has been selected as ‘Priority Corridor’. The total length of this section will be approx. 8.728 km and it will consist of 9 Elevated Metro Stations. Kanpur Metro is slated to commission the commercial operations of the Metro train services for this ‘Priority Corridor’ by November, 2021. The estimated cost of this project is Rs 11,076.48 crores.
This Interview is a part of our December 2019 Magazine: Subscribe to our Magazine Today!
