The Union Cabinet, in a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Modi, has given its nod for construction of metro projects in Kanpur and Agra, to enhance transport in both cities. Yogi Adityanath, the CM of Uttar Pradesh has thanked the Centre, for the release of funds for the project and has asserted that both projects will boost development in both the cities.
केंद्रीय मंत्रिपरिषद द्वारा कानपुर तथा आगरा की मेट्रो रेल परियोजनाओं को मंजूरी दिए जाने के लिए आदरणीय प्रधानमंत्री श्री नरेंद्र मोदी जी का आभार।
प्रदेशवासियों, खासतौर पर आगरा तथा कानपुर की जनता को बधाई। प्रधानमंत्री जी ने प्रदेश के इन 2 महत्वपूर्ण महानगरों को बड़ी सौगात दी है। pic.twitter.com/RjBaaCo2NX— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) March 1, 2019
“The process to finalise contractors for the construction of Kanpur Metro has already started while tenders for Agra will be floated soon,” Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation’s managing director Kumar Keshav, who is the chief advisor for UPMRC, was quoted by TOI.
The new metro projects will be overlooked by Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation, a restructured form of Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation, which currently looks after Lucknow metros. The costs of projects will be jointly shared by the state and central government through equal equity basis and with the help of loans from international funding agencies. Currently, Rs 175 crore for each of the projects has been released by the center.
The Kanpur Metro project is set to cost Rs Rs 11,076.48 crore to both the governments. It will have two corridors: The 23.785 km Indian Insitute of Technology, Kanpur to Naubasta corridor and 8.6 km Agriculture University to Barra corridor. The IIT to Naubasta corridor consists of 14 elevated and 8 underground stations, while AU to Barra corridor will have four elevated and four underground stations.
On the other hand, on the Agra Rail Metro Project, the government will have to spend Rs 8,379.62 crore. Like Kanpur Metro, it is also going to have two corridors. The 14 km Sikandra to Taj East Gate corridor and 15.40 km Agra Cantt to Kalindi Vihar corridor.
The Sikandra to Taj East Gate corridor with 13 station (Skanadra, ISBT, Raja Ki Mandi Railway Station Station, Agra Cantt, Taj Mahal etc) will have six elevated and seven underground stations while the Agra Cantt to Kalindi Vihar corridor is to have 14 stations (Cantt station, Sanjay Place Kanlidi Vihar etc), all of them being elevated ones.