Noida: Security policy, ‘One City One Ticket’ concept for metro on the anvil

The Uttar Pradesh government is likely to approve a security policy to create a ‘ special police force’ for the 30km Noida-Greater Noida metro on June 27 in Lucknow, officials of the Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC) said on Tuesday.

The Uttar Pradesh government is likely to approve a security policy to create a ‘ special police force’ for the 30km Noida-Greater Noida metro on June 27 in Lucknow, officials of the Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC) said on Tuesday.

Metro security plans for Lucknow and Varanasi will also be discussed in this meeting. The under construction 30km Noida-Greater Noida metro project is expected to be operational by November 2017. (HT PHOTO)

UP chief secretary Alok Ranjan will chair the June 27 meeting that is expected to approve this crucial policy.

Metro security plans for Lucknow and Varanasi will also be discussed in this meeting. The under construction 30km Noida-Greater Noida metro project is expected to be operational by November 2017.

“Security for the Noida-Greater Noida line is an important matter for the UP government as this project is part of the Delhi-NCR, where safety is a sensitive issue. Our policy is ready and we need to make small changes before it is presented to the chief secretary on June 27. I hope it will be approved,” said Santosh Yadav, managing director, NMRC.

The UP government also wants to open the under construction Metro projects in Lucknow and Varanasi before the 2017 state assembly polls, officials said.

Sources said an 800-strong special police force will be formed to provide security to Noida-Greater Noida metro line.

Principal secretary (home), managing director of NMRC and Director General Police (provincial armed constabulary), among other top officials, will attend the meeting in Lucknow.

NMRC on Tuesday also discussed the ‘One City One Ticket’ concept with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and other officials from leading private and public sector banks.

‘One City One Car’ project will enable a Metro passenger to get a smart card that can be used for the metro ride, city bus service, cinema, shopping at stations and for paying parking charges. With this card, a passenger will not need cash to avail services in the metro, buses, parking and for shopping at stations.

NMRC will rope in a bank through competitive bidding to manage the ‘One City One Card’ project. NMRC will take around Rs 150 crore from the bank as fee and the bank will make the cards and manage their operations.

“We gave a presentation on the modern smart city card to all these banks. We shared our requirements and priorities with regard to the smart card. Now, we have asked all banks to come up with a business model by next week to take the project to the next stage,” Yadav said.

Thirteen banks attended the meeting on ‘One City One Card’ concept.

“We will publish request for proposal (RFP) for this project on June 22 on our website. Banks will then submit their proposals on the business model. I hope by June-end or beginning July, we will select the bank for the project. We hope to raise around Rs 150 crore out of this project,” Yadav said.