Lucknow: Amid wait for PIB clearance to Lucknow metro on North-South (N-S) corridor from Amausi to Munshipulia, Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation (LMRC) has started exploring possibilities to run metro in Agra, Kanpur and Varanasi too.
LMRC is in talks with development authorities of these cities to explore alignment for metro corridors. Ground work for identifying tentative metro stretches in Kanpur has already begun with LMRC MD Kumar Keshav being the main coordinator of the project.
LMRC said, Keshav will visit Agra on February 11 to explore corridor possibilities there. Meanwhile LMRC is still waiting for PIB’s clearance to Lucknow project. The project’s total cost is around Rs 6,800 crore, out of which state government has granted about Rs 100-crore so far.
Construction of priority section (8 km stretch) is to be completed by 2016 end requires around Rs 2,000 crore. Officials said, “Since major work will be done in 2015-16 financial year, it would need most funds within this year. We have already requested the state government for arranging the funds.”
Meanwhile, chief secretary has instructed the rural development department to vacate the administrative building near Ambedkar Samajik Parivartan Sthal so that LMRC can set up its new office there. Kumar Keshav said construction of workstations and decoration of new premises has already started and the entire office would be able to shift by March 28.
Also, UP Housing and Development Board and UPSIDC have been asked to arrange for remaining funds assigned for the year 2014-15 to the metro project. LMRC has said that over 300 job vacancies will be created in metro after the project commissions on priority section by 2017.
Keshav insisted AAI should be again requested to give its land on rent to LMRC on minimal rates as were given for Chennai Metro on temporary basis. LMRC plans to build casting yard for metro there. Also, it has been decided that a separate consultant would be hired to make Awadh Hospital Chouraha signaled.
Eleven major firms participated in the pre-bid conference held on January 15 based on expression of interest received for appointment of general consultant of the project. Also, the pre-bid meeting for tender of rolling stock was held on January 20 in which 18 companies had participated. Replies to their queries will be issued by February 10.
