First phase to be operational by 2021-22, says govt
BHOPAL : The government has changed its stand on launch of Metro project in merely five months. At a high-level meeting held in February, in the presence of chief secretary Antony de Sa, Metro rail company managing director Vivek Agarwal had claimed that first phase of Metro rail project would be completed by 2018. A delegation from Japan also attended this meeting. It was said in the meeting that Metro in Bhopal would cover 90 kilometres.
On Friday, urban administration minister Maya Singh in the House said that the first phase of Metro will be completed between 2021 and 2022. She said Metro project would start by 2016-2017.
In the meeting with chief secretary, the cost of the Metro project in Indore was claimed to be 8200 crore. In the information furnished in the House, it is said that Indore project would cost Rs 9000 crore. Agarwal, on the issue of delay in Metro project, said it was planned to start single line of Metro by 2018. He said we are in position to invite tenders but could not do so till we receive loan from ZYKA. Agarwal said Metro Company was formed in 2015 to take loan and earlier, it was not known that from where the money to run Metro would come from.
Sources said a condition of ZYKA that makes it mandatory to purchase 35 per cent goods from Japanese companies in connection with Metro rail, is also proving to be a factor behind delay in loan. A delegation of ZYKA, in its recent visit, has suggested several amendments in project and that is why the launching of Metro rail project in both cities is being extended.
