7 cities keen on metro rail

After the resounding success of Delhi Metro, as many as seven cities have sought assistance of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation in implementing similar projects to be set up at an expenditure of Rs 31,000 crore (Rs 310 billion).

"As many as seven cities are planning metro rail systems and all the project reports are being prepared by the DMRC," E Sreedharan, MD, DMRC said at a CII seminar on Mass Rapid Transit System in New Delhi.

After the success of Delhi's Metro System, 26 cities in the country are at various stages of planning and implementing the Metro system.

Giving details about the projects, Sreedharan said that the 63 kilometre long Mumbai line will cost Rs 10,600 crore (Rs 106 billion) while Bangalore's two lines covering 32 km would cost Rs 3,970 crore (Rs 39.7 billion).

"The Hyderabad Metro will have three lines covering 60 km implemented at a cost of Rs 5,100 crore (Rs 51 billion) and Ahmedabad metro be built at Rs 2,600 crore (Rs 26 billion)," he said.

He also said that Kolkata, which already has one line, will get a new 18.7 km line with a part of it running under the Hoogly river and will cost Rs 3,460 crore (Rs 34.60 billion) and the 5 km Chennai line is expected to cost Rs 5,100 crore.

Talking about the Delhi Metro, the DMRC Chief said the second phase of the Delhi Metro will have a 40 km connecting line between the railway station and the new airport.

"This will reduce the travel time to 15 minutes and this line will be implemented before the Commonwealth Games commence in Delhi," he said.