The Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES) is taking significant strides toward bringing the Metro system to fruition in the Tricity region. In a recent development, RITES announced that construction is scheduled to commence in March of the upcoming year, with the completion of the alternative analysis report (AAR) and detailed project report (DPR) expected by December.
During a meeting chaired by Chandigarh Adviser to the Administrator Dharam Pal, RITES presented its inception report. The inception report serves as a crucial step to ensure a mutual understanding of the consultant’s plan of action and timeline for conducting the evaluation. The meeting also saw the participation of officials from Punjab and Haryana.
Metro project development timeline
RITES conveyed in the meeting that both the AAR and DPR will be finalised by December this year, paving the way for project work to commence in March next year. A senior officer from the Chandigarh administration expressed optimism, stating, “Once the reports are there, we will be moving them to the government for approval. And we are hoping that the work on the Metro will begin in March next year.”
Previously, there were expectations that the DPR and AAR would be ready by March. However, RITES has been urged to expedite the process to ensure that work can commence promptly.
During the meeting, discussions revolved around exploring various alternatives to provide efficient public transportation to key destinations within the Tricity. The goal is to identify the optimal mode of public transportation for major travel corridors outlined in the Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP).
RITES was also tasked with evaluating the feasibility of cost-benefit systems such as Metrolite and Metro Neo as potential modes of public transport. The report provided a comprehensive assessment encompassing vital aspects, including ridership, alignment, station planning, multi-modal integration, cost considerations, economic viability, financial sustainability, environmental impacts, revenue sources (both fare and non-fare), disaster preparedness, cybersecurity, and an implementation mechanism for the Tricity.
Assessment of public transport alternatives and funding framework
According to RITES, the preparation of the DPR will incur a cost of Rs 6.54 crore, and once it is finalised, further approvals will be sought.
Regarding the project’s funding, it has been decided that 20% of the financing will be contributed by the states, another 20% by the central government, and the remaining 60% by a lending agency. The tentative cost of the Metro project is estimated at approximately Rs 10,570 crore.
RITES has previously presented guidelines, procedures, and policies aligned with the Metro Rail Policy issued by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) to Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh for planning the Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS).
The proposed Metro network is expected to cover a substantial area in Phase-I, encompassing 77 km in total. This will include a 35 km stretch in Chandigarh, an 11 km section in Panchkula, and a 31 km segment spanning Mohali and New Chandigarh. Phase-I development is slated to occur from 2027 to 2037. This represents an expansion from the initial plan, which aimed to cover 66 km in Phase-I.
