Bhopal: On Thursday, a three-member team of European Investment Bank (EIB) concluded their two-day survey of the ambitious Bhopal metro rail project by discussing the technical aspects of the project with the officials of the administration.
The team was here to study the aspects of the metro rail project before providing funds for its first phase having an estimated cost of about Rs 7,000 crore. Earlier on Wednesday, the EIB team headed by its country head Sunita Lakkhoo visited the proposed routes of the project including the main depot at Stud Farms in Arera Hills.
“On Thursday, the EIB officials discussed every possible technical aspect including depot, elevators, tracks and others with the officials. During the meeting we provided all the necessary documents and papers mentioning the technical features to the EIB team,” said officer on special duty, Bhopal Metro Rail Project, Kamal Nagar adding the EIB officials had assured them of giving a reply after one or two months after thoroughly studying the project.
If approved, EIB would be funding the first phase of the project comprising two routes of about 27 kms which includes a line from Karond to AIIMS (14.34 kms) and Bhadbhada to Anand Nagar (12.34 kms). As per the new proposal, the state government would have an equity stake of 20 per cent, the Centre would also have 20 per cent while the remaining 60 per cent would be raised from the financial assistance received from EIB.
The ambitious project of the government has failed to take off due to lack of funds. Last year, a team of Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) visited the capital to discuss the possibilities of funding the project but it failed to materialise.
