Centre's nod pending, UP goes ahead with foundation laying of

Confident of getting Central nod for the Lucknow metro project "soon", Uttar Pradesh government today said the foundation laying of the first phase of the project will be performed this month.
"Lucknow metro rail will get central government's approval soon and the foundation laying of the first phase of the project between Amausi airport and Charbagh would be performed this month itself," said Madhukar Jaitley, advisor to externally aided projects department, who also holds the rank of minister of state.
Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav will be present at the foundation laying function alongwith other leaders, Jaitley said.

Stressing that some other cities also faced a serious traffic problem, he said that an experienced firm has been asked to prepare a DPR (detailed project report) for Kanpur, Varanasi, Agra, Bareilly , Aligarh, Meerut and Allahabad on the basis of their population after looking into their eligibility.
Jaitley said that directives to this effect have already been issued by the chief minister to chief secretary and principal secretary housing and after getting approval of the state cabinet these DPRs would be presented before the central government.
The DPR for these cities would be either for the metro rail project or mono rail as per the requirement, he said.