European bank to advance Rs 1,752 cr to Lucknow Metro

Akhilesh's pet Lucknow Metro gathers steam under Yogi rule

After having missed the proposed start of commercial run in the last week of March 2017, Lucknow Metro Rail – a pet project of the previous Akhilesh Yadav government in Uttar Pradesh – the mega project is gathering steam under the incumbent Yogi Adityanath regime.

Lucknow Metro along with Agra-Lucknow Expressway and Lucknow IT City were the projects patronised by Yadav.

European Investment Bank (EIB) has recently signed an agreement with the Centre in New Delhi to advance 250 million Euros (about Rs 1,752 crore) credit line to Lucknow Metro as second tranche of the loan amount for the project.

Earlier, EIB vice president Andrew Denis McDowell accompanied by six bank officials had visited Lucknow Metro project sites to review the progress before advancing the credit line.

Earlier in March 2016, a loan agreement for 450 Million Euros (about Rs 3,502 crore) was signed between the central government and EIB in Brussels during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Belgium.

The funds were supposed to be released by EIB in two tranches of 200 million Euros and 250 million Euros respectively. The first tranche of 200 million Euros had already been received by Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation (LMRC).

Now, the remaining portion of the agreed loan amount would flow into the project, which is in the last leg of conducting trail runs, underway over the last few months.

On March 30, the Research Designs & Standards Organization (RDSO) had certified Lucknow Metro trains for safe running up to 80 kmph based on the successful completion of Oscillation Trials.

LMRC Senior PRO Amit Kumar Srivastava said the certificate had been issued in record time of 20 days by RDSO to Lucknow Metro as compared to 2-3 month time taken by other metros.

These tests were conducted at the maximum designed speed of trains, which is 90 kmph. The tests were conducted with empty trains and with passenger load equivalent to crush loading of 8 passenger per square metre. To simulate passenger load, the train was loaded with sand bags equivalent to about 80 tonne per train.

As per existing procedure for approval of opening of commercial services of Metro for public, the Ministry of Railways approval is required based on successful completion of the Oscillation Trials by RDSO and subsequent Safety Inspection by the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS).

Now, LMRC would submit request to the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS) for detailed review & inspection required for approval from the Railway Board.