India speeds up metro projects
About 1,000 km of Mass Rapid Transport System (MRTS) or metro line proposals under planning while 600 km are under construction and are to be operational over the next five years, said the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs on 16 Feb 2019.
The Government has taken various steps for standardization and growth of metro rail in India and the Metro Rail Policy 2017 enables rapid and sustainable growth of metro rail in the country.
Giving this update, the Ministry said 585 km of Metro lines are operational and approximately another 60 km of metro lines are likely to be opened in the next one month in the cities of Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Nagpur and Ghaziabad.
With rapid urbanization, the pressure is mounting on the public transport system from the people living in cities and towns across the country.
The MRTS has emerged as one of the most effective means of mobility for the citizens in tier-1 and tier-2 cities and Metro has been a major player.
With a modest beginning with 8 km in 2002, modern metro rail have shown phenomenal growth in the country, said the Ministry, adding that there are 585 km of operational metro lines as on 10 February 2019.
In the current financial year (2018-19), 140 km of metro lines have been opened for the public (till 10 February 2019). fiinews.com
