Centre to expedite Ahmedabad Metro project approval

Urban Development and Housing Minister M Venkaiah Naidu today assured Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel to expedite the approval of the Ahmedabad Metro project, once the state completes the required formalities.
The DPR of the 35-km long Ahmedabad Metro project has been prepared by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and has now been forwarded to the Centre for final approval.
The project, involving six km underground and 29 km elevated and estimated to cost about Rs 10,675 crore, would be implemented with equal partnership between the state and the Centre.
Patel, who met Naidu here, apprised him of pending approval of the Ahmedabad Metro and the issues of incomplete projects under JNNURM, among others, an official statement said.

Naidu assured the Chief Minister that the proposal of Ahmedabad Metro would be sent for approval to the Cabinet as soon as the Gujarat government completes the necessary formalities on its part, the statement said.
The Gujarat Chief Minister also raised the issue of incomplete JNNURM projects in the state and sought funds to complete the same.

However, since the JNNURM came to an end in March this year, the Urban Development Ministry has decided not to extend it further and asked all states to complete the incomplete projects at their own cost.
Naidu assured the Chief Minister that the issue of incomplete projects under JNNURM will be studied in detail and a solution will be found since the scheme got over on March 31, 2014.

Senior Ministry officials as well as the Gujarat government were also present at the meeting.
Praising the state model of providing affordable houses to poor, Naidu said Gujarat is a pioneering state which is giving affordable housing to poor in partnership with the private sector, urban local bodies and the project developers.
The Union Minister further suggested that the state government should also involve PSUs and LICs in the development of such houses.
He said his Ministry will soon send a team of officers to Gujarat to study the model of providing affordable houses to the poor.