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PIB approves ₹2,197crore for Noida Metro extension project
NOIDA: The Public Investment Board (PIB) under the Union ministry of finance has approved ₹2,197 crore for the 14
NOIDA: The Public Investment Board (PIB) under the Union ministry of finance has approved ₹2,197 crore for the 14.9-km Noida-Greater Noida Metro link project, paving the way for construction work, sources said on Sunday.
The project will take Metro connectivity deeper into Noida and Greater Noida pockets, which are home to many newly-built group housing projects that lack connectivity, said officials.
The Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC) officials said they are looking forward to begin work at the site.
“The PIB approval for extending the existing Metro route in Noida and Greater Noida is an important step in infrastructure development. Now, the NMRC will float tenders to select a contractor for the project. We hope that the government will give its final approval in about two months’ time,” said Anand Vardhan, executive director, NMRC.
According to procedure, the Union government gives the final approval once the PIB approves funds for an infrastructure project, said officials.
“We had sent a proposal for the approval of ₹2,400 crore for the Metro extension project. But the PIB asked us to make some amendments and it has now approved a budget of ₹2,197 crore,” said Vardhan.
“The NMRC will build the 14.9-km Metro extension project and not seek assistance from the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) because we have developed the required expertise,” Vardhan added.
Earlier, the NMRC hired DMRC to build the 29.7-km Aqua Line between Noida and Greater Noida.
The detailed project report (DPR) of the 14.9-km Aqua Line extension corridor was approved by the Uttar Pradesh government in 2019 itself, but the PIB approval was awaited, said NMRC officials.
In May 2020, the NMRC started the survey for the testing of soil and topography on the 14.9-km Metro corridor, which is set to branch out from the existing Aqua Line in Sector 51 and move towards Greater Noida’s Knowledge Park V.
The two industrial bodies— Noida and Greater Noida authorities on December 12, 2019 decided that both of them will pool funds for the project.
According to the DPR submitted in December 2016, the first phase of 9.1-km will have five Metro stations—Sector 122, Sector 123, Greater Noida Sector 4, Ecotech and Greater Noida Sector 2. In the second phase of 5.8-km, four stations—Greater Noida Sector 3, Greater Noida Sector 10, Greater Noida Sector 12 and Knowledge Park V—will be built.
Meanwhile, the NMRC has also started parking facilities for passengers at Aqua Line’s Sector Alpha 1 Metro station, officials added.
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