New Delhi: NITI Aayog to be engaged in reviewing progress of indigenisation and standardisation of metro rail systems. This decision has been taken by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
This step is taken to monitor the progress of various metro rail projects being implemented across the country. As per the ministry this initiative is taken in order to promote central government’s ‘Make-in India’ initiative while implementing Metro rail projects in various states.
An official while interacting with media shared that the ministry has standardised specifications of rolling stock, signalling and telecom systems for Metro rails projects undertaken in the country.
The officials while speaking with Economic Times said, “It has been decided that NITI Aayog’s Member (Science) will review the progress of standardisation and indigenisation of Metro rail systems by the Housing and Urban Affairs ministry to ensure time- bound progress”.
It was in June when Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave his nod for formation of a committee to lay down standards for metro rail projects in India. This committee will be headed by none other than  Metro Man Sreedharan.
The official also added that this will pay way for indigenisation of many metro rail projects currently being executed.
As per the data on hand with the Ministry of Housing and Urban, there are around 22 ongoing and under-construction Metro rail projects in Kolkata, Delhi, Noida-Greater Noida, Lucknow, Ahmedabad,Bangalore, Jaipur Mumbai, Chennai, Nagpur, Pune, Kochi, Hyderabad and Gurugram.
The ministry informed that Phase-IV of Delhi Metro is likely to conclude by December, 2020. On the other hand Phase-II of Bangalore Metro (72 km length) is expected to be wrapped by March 2021. In addition, proposed length of 23 km metro project in Lucknow is most likely to be finished by March 2019.
Even the Nagpur Metro project, which was approved in March this year, will be concluded in December 2019.
