GDA to review DPR of two metro rail corridors planned in Ghaziabad

Ghaziabad, India (Metro Rail Today): The Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) has planned to develop a major interchange at Sahibabad, connecting the existing Delhi-Meerut Rapid Rail Transport System (RRTS) corridor to the proposed Metro extension from Noida Sector 62 to Sahibabad in Ghaziabad. GDA will direct the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to reassess the proposed metro corridor.

In the detailed project reports (DPRs) provided by DMRC to GDA in January 2020, the proposed Noida Sector 62 to Sahibabad route entails a budget of Rs 1,517 crore, while the proposed Vaishali to Mohan Nagar route requires Rs 1,808.22 crore.

“We will soon hold meetings with DMRC officials to reassess the feasibility of the Sector 62 to Sahibabad Metro extension (Blue Line). Sahibabad already has a RRTS station coming up, and our focus is to integrate the two systems for the benefit of residents. Following the meeting, the DMRC will be requested to prepare a revised project report that incorporates the interchange in Sahibabad,” said Brijesh Kumar, Secretary, GDA.

However, funding has become a major issue for GDA due to a shortage of funds, and the state government declined to provide state funding for the two proposed metro extensions in Ghaziabad in January this year. During a recent meeting in May, state officials denied 50% of the state government’s requested share for the GDA.

“The state officials have denied 50% of the share for the two extensions. Currently, our focus is on developing Sector-62 to Sahibabad to facilitate integration with the RRTS Sahibabad station,” Kumar further added.

The officials of National Capital Reason Transport Corporation (NCRTC), which is developing the Delhi-Meerut RRTS project, said that they have already made provision at the Sahibabad station for multi-modal integration.

“We already have integration with UP Roadways bus station wth RRTS station at Sahibabad. We have already made provision at Sahibabad and it has been designed in such a manner that future integration with other modes like the metro can be made,” said Puneet Vats, chief PRO of NCRTC.

According to officials, the project cost of Rs 1,517 crore for the Sector-62 to Sahibabad metro extension was based on 2020 prices, and it is expected to increase if the report is revised to reflect current prices.