JAIPUR (Metro Rail News): The Balwal-Behror section of Delhi-Gurugram-Rewari-Alwar RRTS project, has taken centre stage after a meeting held at the State Secretariat in Jaipur. The meeting, led by Chief Secretary Mr V. Srinivas, examined the supplementary DPR concerning the Balwal-Behror RRTS section before granting the state’s approval for further pursuit of the project. 

During the meeting, a close focus was placed on the crucial elements of the project, including the financing structure, inter-state cost sharing between Haryana and Rajasthan, and land cost. Rajasthan government is closely scrutinising the project’s alignment with the state’s long term economic and urban growth. 

The Alignment of RRTS Project in Rajasthan 

Originally, the corridor will span about 129 km between Sarai Kale Khan and Behror, of which 25 km will fall in Rajasthan, covering its industrial belt. As of now, 4 stations are planned at SNB Border (Shahjahanpur-Neemrana-Behror), Shahjahanpur, Neemrana, and Behror. 

The Balwal- Behror RRTS project is projected to come up  at ₹7,747 crore. The cost incorporates land acquisition cost and other elements. Given the magnitude of the proposed project, timely determination of the financial obligations of the concerned authorities will be essential for its further progress. The proposed financing structure is expected to involve financial assistance from the Central Government, the State Government’s share, expenditure towards land acquisition and other land-related requirements, and institutional sources of finance. 

In this context, the authorities also considered avenues for mobilisation of additional resources. The District Collector, Kotputli-Behror, and the Chief Executive Officer, Behror Industrial Development Authority, were directed to identify and undertake appropriate measures for mobilisation of resources towards meeting the financial requirements of the project, as reported by ET Rajasthan.

Inter-State Financing Plan

A further matter considered during the review concerned the proposed allocation of the Bawal-Rajasthan border section between the Governments of Rajasthan and Haryana. If approved, the proposed arrangement would provide for the respective States to share the financial and other obligations associated with the section, having regard to the inter-State character of the proposed corridor. 

The Chief Secretary has directed all the concerned departments to complete all the necessary obligations and move the DPR for approval. For the implementation of the project, the State’s in-principle approval to the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs is required. The project’s further movement will be closely dependent on technical, financial, and regulatory clearances.