Center-Haryana Partnership for Gurugram's Metro Connectivity Project
The Gurugram Metro Rail Limited (GMRL), a recently established entity, is set to execute the metro connectivity initiative connecting Millennium City Centre to Cyber City in Gurugram. Sanjeev Kaushal, the Chief Secretary of Haryana and Chairman of Haryana Mass Rapid Transport Corporation (HMRTC), announced that GMRL will operate as a joint venture, with a 50 percent stake from both the Central and Haryana governments. The Union Secretary for Urban Development will lead GMRL, overseeing the implementation of all forthcoming projects, as stated during the 54th meeting of HMRTC, chaired by Kaushal.
The estimated cost for the metro connectivity project between Millennium City Centre and Cyber City, spanning 28.50 km with 27 stations, stands at Rs 5452.72 crore. Processes for pre-construction activities, including geotechnical investigations and design consultations, have already been initiated. The project will provide a circular mobility corridor connecting Millennium city centre to Subhash Chowk to Railway station, Rezangla Chowk to Cyber City coming full circle, he said.
The Chief Secretary further said that HMRTC has witnessed a robust surge in both ridership and income, reflecting its resilience and commitment to providing efficient urban transit solutions. Rapid Metro Gurugram experienced an impressive 35.54 percent surge in ridership compared to the same period last year. He said that the cumulative ridership reached an impressive 80,13,765 passengers, marking a significant leap from the 59,12,457 recorded in the previous year.
The total income for the six months ending on September 30 marked a significant surge of 53.84 percent, totaling Rs 26.26 crores compared to Rs 17.07 crores in the year's corresponding period. Revenue from operations experienced a growth of 37.73 percent, reaching Rs 14.37 crores, and non-fare revenue demonstrated an outstanding increase of 97.52 percent, reaching Rs 11.53 crores. The Chief Secretary noted a substantial reduction in losses, which decreased from Rs 7.51 crores to Rs 47 lakh.
Kaushal further said that Rezangla Chowk to Sector 21, Dwarka Rail project, is an 8.40 km corridor, featuring seven stations, and comes with a completion cost of Rs 1891.56 crore. The approval of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) has initiated discussions on optimal station locations. Apart from this, the metro connectivity project from Vatika Chowk to Panchgaon in Gurugram envisions a 30 km corridor, with M/s RITES as the appointed consultant. Diligent work on the DPR is in progress, with an Inception Report submitted on September 1, 2023, he added.
Exploration is underway for proposals regarding route adjustments and potential termination at the current Rapid Metro Station in Sector-56, Gurugram. This initiative aims to incorporate strategic planning layers to enhance last-mile connectivity for the public. The Chief Secretary has instructed officers to finalize these plans by April 30, 2024. Additionally, in response to an announcement by Haryana Chief Minister Mahonar Lal, the extension of metro connectivity from Ballabhgarh to Palwal has been initiated, as mentioned by the Chief Secretary.
A Techno Feasibility Study is currently in progress for an extension with a tentative corridor length of 25 km and 10 proposed stations. The Chief Secretary emphasized that this extension plays a vital role in bolstering regional connectivity. The government is dedicated to extending the metro from Bahadurgarh to Asoudha, linking with the Haryana Orbit Rail Network and Kundli Manesar Palwal Expressway. Consultants have been tasked with promptly submitting the ridership assessment study, as directed by the Chief Secretary.
