Metro Maze

With Metro connectivity being the latest  buzzword  in the  realty industry due to the obvious forward  and backward  linkages, alternative variations of the  Metro Rail are  being considered in the quest  for greater and efficient connectivity in the  National Capital Region in tune with the developmental needs of the various locations

In keeping with the developmental mantra of improved connectivity through internal transportation in the vibrant National capital Region, Metro trains in the near future are being planned to take you to hit her to unconnected places in key locations in Noida, Greater Noida and also along the Yamuna Expressway.

Understandably, engaging  the  Delhi Metro  Rail Corporation {DMRC) is keeping most development agencies busy these days.

While many projects are in various stages of planning and negotiation, there is also an ongoing quest to bring in a novel or alternative models to provide the people with an enhanced Metro reach.

A case in point is the latest proposal of the Yamuna Expressway Industrial   Development  Authority (YEIDA) to run a light Metro on the 20-km-long Pari Chowk to Sector 20 segment along the high­ speed e-way. The planned link will run parallel to the   165-km  Yamuna  Expressway connecting Greater Noida with tourist destination Agra.

DMRC Managing  Director Mangu  Singh was quoted in recent media reports as saying: “We are conducting a feasibility report on the proposed 20- km-long stretch.” He added that if the passenger influx is low, then running a light Metro “will be a better option…if the passenger influx increases, we can switch to the usual Metro trains.” The track for the normal and the light Metro are similar.

Contacted  by  Realty &  More,  Rama Raman, Chairman of Noida, Greater Noida Authorities and YEIDA, confirmed the development saying: “Since the region is in the first stage of development now, there will not be many passengers, so we are mulling the light Metro option on the Yamuna Expressway.”

The expenditure, Raman pointed out, is much less and the coaches are also fewer in such trains. Raman said: “DMRC will give a feasibility report on this after doing the traffic survey and taking other factors into consideration.” Commenting on the timeline, Raman said: “It will take at least three to four months. if the project looks feasible, then we will send a proposal to the Government for approval”.

Substantiating the issue at hand, PC Gupta, CEO of YEIDA, too informed Realty & More that it was DMRC that ideated the light Metro concept for the region. “Now they have sent us a proposal. Once we approve this, the DMRC team will go onsite, prepare a feasibility report, and then we will decide on a future course of action,”  said Gupta adding that the light  Metro  rail concept is currently in its very initiaI stages.

Even as the light Metro plans are in a nascent stage, the Noida Authority  has  already signed two Memorandums of Understanding {MoU) with the DMRC clearing the way for two new major Metro links.

The first is the 30-km Noida-Greater Noida {Noida City Centre to Bodaki) link where work is to begin by March next year and is scheduled to be completed in three years.

The second Metro link covered under the MoU is the 6.8-km-long  link between Noida City Centre and Sector 62 for which the DMRC will start work by the year-end and is set to complete by October 2017. The proposed link will connect Noida with Ghaziabad.

“Once we approve this, the DMRC team will go on-site, prepare a feasibility report, and then we will decide on a future course of action.”
PC GUPTA, CEO of YEIDA

“Since the region is in the first stage of development now, there will not be many passengers, so we are mulling the light Metro option”
RAMA RAMAN, Chairman, Noida and Greater Noida Authorities and YEIDA

“We are conducting a feasibility report on the proposed 20-km-long stretch”
MANGU SINGH, Managing Director, DMRC

”Though the DMRC has given a three-year deadline, we are hopeful that the Metro trains will roll out here before that”
MANOJ RAI, OSD, Noida Authority

•  A case in point is the latest proposal of the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) to run a light Metro on the 20-km-long Pad Chowk to Sector 20 segment along the high-speed a-way. The planned link will run parallel to the 165-km Yamuna Expressway connecting Greater Noida with tourist destination Agra

•  The first is the 30-km Noida-Greater Noida (Noida City Centre to Bodaki) link where work is to begin by March next year and is scheduled to be completed in three years

• The second Metro link covered under the MoU is the 6.8-km-long link between Noida City Centre and Sector 62 for which the DMRC will start work by the year-end and is set to complete it by October 2017. The proposed link will connect Noida with Ghaziabad

Noida AuthorityOSD Manoj Rai confirmed to Realty& More about the two Metro links’ targeted schedule. But, he said, “Though the DMRC has given a three­ year deadline, we are hopeful that the Metro trains will roll out here before that”.

The 30-km Noida-Greater Noida Metro link will have 22 stations, including  Knowledge Park and Sector Delta-1 in Greater Noida while the second link will provide connectivity to   Sectors  32,   34,   35, Hoshiarpur, Sectors 51, 52, 71, Greater Noida West Marg, Sarfabad, Sectors 60,61,62, 63 and NH-24.

The region is also abuzz with reports about  Metro connectivity to fresh key destinations. One among such proposed routes is a 16.5 km link from Mayur Vihar Phase-1 in Delhi to Sector 142/143 in Noida and the other one is a 15-km ink from Noida Sector 71 to D Park in Greater Noida West. The DMRC recently started work on the pre-feasibility study report on these routes after getting a communication from the Noida Authority. Said Raman: “The two new Metro links are important  eyeing the future passenger influx.”

Noida Authority and DMRC officials were quoted in media reports as saying the  16.5-km  link from MayurVihar Phase-I will cross another Metro line at the  Mahamaya Flyover on the Noida  Expressway. From the  Mahamaya  Flyover, this link will run parallel to the Noida Expressway. The last station, as mentioned earlier will be Sector 142/143. The other proposed  15-km  link from  Sector 71  will cover Sectors 67, 71, 72, 117, 118, 122, Gadi Chokhandi, Bahlolpur in Noida and Sectors 1, 2, 3, 4 Shahberi, Roza, Yakubpur and Milak, among other areas in Greater Noida West.