UP Cabinet clears decks for Kanpur Metro Rail

Cabinet okays DPR for project estimated at Rs 13,700 crore

Uttar Pradesh Cabinet on Monday cleared the decks for Kanpur Metro Rail with its approval of the detailed project report (DPR) of the proposed project.

The DRP, which had been prepared by RITES, had proposed Kanpur Metro project totalling 32 km spanning two corridors and 31 stations, including 19 elevated and 12 underground.

The decision was taken at the state Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav here. According to rates prevailing in August 2015, the project is estimated to cost Rs 13,721 crore.

The Cabinet has also authorised Yadav to take decisions with regards to amendment or changes in the project, since the central government would also come on board with its suggestions in later stages.

While the Lucknow Metro Rail project is already underway, next in line after the Kanpur Metro would be the proposed Varanasi Metro project. According to sources, the DPR for Varanasi Metro is also awaiting the state Cabinet's nod.

“It is possible for the Kanpur and Varanasi metro projects to start before December 2016, if the DPR gets timely clearances by all the departments and agencies,” principal advisor to Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation (LMRC) E Sreedharan had said during his visit to Lucknow last month.

The first phase of the Lucknow Metro Rail project is fast nearing completion and trial runs are projected to start from November after passenger coaches start arriving from September 2016.

Earlier, the train, according to the contract, was expected to arrive in November and trial runs were set to start from December 2016.

However, with the civil works progressing well, LMRC has been trying to start trials earlier, so that the project is completed in a shorter time span than planned.

After the DPR is cleared by the state Cabinet, it is forwarded to the Centre for vetting, since these are joint venture projects.

The DPR is cleared by the Union Urban Development Ministry, but needs clearances by other departments, including finance, railways, civil aviation, as well. The clearance of DPR by the central departments could typically take 2-3 months.