Uttarakhand Metro A serious effort in the form of Metro Rail was started in the year 2017 to bring the public transport system back on track in Uttarakhand. Initially, many steps were taken towards Metrolite, but in the year 2018, the proposal of Neo-Metro was prepared under the Metro Policy of the Central Government.

Suman Semwal, Dehradun. It is not hidden from anyone how the traffic gets suffocated on the narrow roads of the city. This situation will be such that the pressure of vehicles has become up to six times the capacity of the roads (according to passenger car units). On the other hand, the situation of public transport is such that 85 percent of people depend on private vehicles only.

To bring the public transport system back on track, a serious effort in the form of Metro Rail was started in the year 2017. Initially, many steps were taken towards Metrolite, but in the year 2018, the proposal of Neo-Metro was prepared under the Metro Policy of the Central Government.

DPR of Neo-Metro has been pending for a long time

Uttarakhand Metro Rail Corporation prepared the DPR (Detailed Project Report) of Neo-Metro with great effort. This DPR has been pending with the Central Government since January 2022 and talks have not been held in this direction for a long time. Uttarakhand Metro Rail Corporation made every possible effort to launch Neo Metro on the ground. A survey was conducted on all the corridors from Metrolight to Cable Car and Metro.

DPR worth about Rs 1650 crore ready

Finally, to limit it to the city, two corridors were decided from ISBT to Gandhi Park and from FRI to Raipur. According to this, DPR worth about Rs 1650 crore was prepared. This exercise was also not done in a blank form, rather a Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP) was prepared for it. In which it was explained how Neo Metro can prove helpful in reducing the pressure on city roads.

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The state government also removed the land hurdle

Although Neo-Metro is operated on pillars in the middle of the road and there is no special need for land, the state government left no stone unturned to fulfill the requirement of land for stations, etc. The state cabinet approved giving the land to state departments on a 99-year lease at Re 1. Even the Defense Ministry agreed to give its land.

Exercise completed, desire still unfulfilled

With all the formalities completed, the state cabinet approved the DPR of the Metro in December 2022. After this, the DPR was sent to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development of the Center in January 2023. The Central Government asked various questions and answers for some time and the Metro Rail Corporation replied to all of them. Now the situation is that even after months have passed, the picture on this important project is not being cleared. These two corridors are ISBT to Gandhi Park, 5.52 km to FRI Raipur, 13.90 km

These are the proposed metro stations

• ISBT to Gandhi Park: ISBT, Sewalkalan, ITI, Lalpul, Chamanpuri, Pathribagh, Railway Station, Kachari, Ghantaghar,
• Gandhi Park FRI to Raipur: FRI, Ballupur Chowk, IMA Blood Bank, Doon School, Malhotra Bazaar, Ghantaghar, CCMC, Araghar Chowk, Nehru Colony, Vidhansabha, Upper Badrish Colony, Upper Natthanpur, Ordinance Factory, Hathi Khana Chowk, Raipur.

Special features of Metro Neo

The Central Government has proposed the Metro Neo project for cities whose population is up to 20 lakh. Its cost is up to 40 percent less than traditional metro. In this, there is no need for large space for the station premises. It can be operated on the elevated corridor on the road divider portion.