Metro proposals for nine cities, including Pune and Lucknow, are under consideration of the central government, Urban development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said on Friday during the inauguration of Reach-3B of Bangalore Metro Railway line between Nagasandra and Peenya Industrial Area. The costing was estimated to Rs.83,000 crore.
“The Metro services would cover a total length of 223km and cost Rs 83,000 crore,” he said said.
Nagpur, Pune, Vijaywada, Lucknow and Ahmedabad are few cities which are under consideration of the central goverment, he said.
He also added that the demand for rolling stock is set to increase due to the expansion of the metro services. The government is encouraging production of metro coaches in the country.
“Out of the 2,100 coaches that Delhi metro needs for its three phases, 1,850 are being indigenously manufactured,” he said.
He also added that,”Alstom is setting up another metro car making unit at Sri City with an investment of Rs 630 crore.”
Bombardier has signed a contract with Australia for exporting 450 metro cars made in India and these exports will begin by the end 2015. Alstom will supply 132 metro cars to Australia by August, 2017.
“This is what our Prime Minister is keen about. India shall emerge as the manufacturing hub for the world given our advantages. Manufacturing of metro cars for domestic needs as well as for exports is an indication of the dream of ‘Make in India’ taking shape,” he said.
One of the key objectives of smart cities initiative is to put in place an efficient and reliable public transport system which will enable easy mobility, he said. The governments’ ambitious schemes are of building at least 100 smart cities, he concluded.
Tags: smart cities
