Govt planning for massive expansion of Metro networks

Metro media segment is poised for exponential growth with the Government planning for many more Metro networks around the country. Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India, said while addressing the CoMET 2018 Management Meeting at Metro Bhawan that the Government is planning for over 700 kilometres of Metro network over the next 5 years, with a vision of establishing Metro systems in 50 cities.

“Today 425 kilometres of Metro lines are operational in 10 cities. Metro projects in India are not only perceived as a solution to transportation requirements but as a means to transform cities. The Prime Minister as part of his vision is looking at a situation where 50 Indian cities will have Metro rails,” the minister said.

Describing the Delhi Metro as the forerunner of India’s Metro story, Puri said that it is now operating on a network of 231 kilometres and carrying three million people every day and in a year’s time, the network length in the nation’s Capital Region is going to cross 350 kilometres which will place Delhi Metro among the top five large Metro systems in the world.  

The minster also said that the Metro Policy, announced last year would further propel the development of Metro in India. “Last year, the Metro Rail policy was announced. This policy enables greater private participation, innovative financing, value capital finance and provides more options of financing by the government for creation of Metro rail infrastructure.This will go a long way in further boosting the growth of Metro rail,” he said.