Delhi, UP should work together on high-speed Metro link: G Noida authority

The Greater Noida authority on Thursday said the ministry of urban development wants the Uttar Pradesh and Delhi governments to work together to construct a dedicated 52.9 km high-speed metro link between Greater Noida’s Bodaki and Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi

The Greater Noida authority on Thursday said the ministry of urban development (MoUD) wants the Uttar Pradesh and Delhi governments to work together to construct a dedicated 52.9 km high-speed metro link between Greater Noida’s Bodaki and Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in Delhi.

The authority had, in June 2014, conducted a feasibility study for the high-speed Metro link. The study concluded that the project was feasible. (HT Photo)

The authority had in June 2014 decided to conduct a feasibility study for the high-speed Metro link. The study, which was submitted to the MoUD, concluded that the project was feasible. After studying the feasibility report, the MoUD called a meeting with the officials from Greater Noida, Delhi government and Delhi-Mumbai industrial corridor (DMIC) on April 5.

“The high-speed Metro link will connect the DMIC being developed in Greater Noida’s Bodaki region with IGI. The 52.9-km high-speed Metro link falls in territory of Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. With a tentative speed of 150-160 km per hour, a commuter will be able to travel from Greater Noida to IGI in 30 minutes,” a senior official said.

Mukul Kumar Sinha, officer on special duty (OSD) with MoUD chaired the meeting in Delhi on Thursday.

“The ministry said the urban transport is a state subject. Therefore, if a high-speed Metro project is to be built in areas of UP and Delhi, the state governments should first agree. The chief executive officer of the DMIC will have to write to both UP and Delhi to start the process for the project,” said Deepak Agarwal, chief executive officer (CEO) of the Greater Noida authority.

“The project is in its initial stage. Both the Delhi and UP governments will have to select an agency like the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to get a detailed project report (DPR) prepared. Once the DPR is ready, the two governments will go to MoUD for approval and financial assistance,” said Agarwal.

Alkesh Kumar Sharma, chief executive officer (CEO) and managing director of the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) Development Corporation, which is the centre’s infrastructure project funded by Japan, will send letters to UP and Delhi to begin the process of DPR for the project.