Preparatory Work Commences on Metro Extension from Ballabhgarh to Palwal; Techno Feasibility Study Contract Awarded - Haryana Chief Secretary

Chandigarh, July 24: Haryana Chief Secretary and HMRTC Chairman, Mr. Sanjeev Kaushal today disclosed that the preparatory work for the proposed metro extension from Ballabhgarh to Palwal, covering a distance of approximately 25 kilometers, has been commenced and the contract for the Techno Feasibility Study has been awarded to M/S RITES.

After presiding over the 53rd meeting of the Board of Director Haryana Mass Rapid Transport Corporation (HMRTC), he said that in a major leap towards enhancing public transportation infrastructure, the Chief Minister of Haryana, Mr. Manohar Lal has announced the extension of the metro network from Ballabhgarh to Palwal., on June 25, 2023.

          Mr. Kaushal said that the metro extension project holds tremendous significance as it is set to become a test case for the Haryana government, with a firm commitment to implement it in the shortest possible time frame. In pursuit of this ambitious endeavor, a team of officers from M/S RITES and the Haryana Mass Rapid Transport Corporation (HMRTC) visited the proposed metro extension's alignment on June 27, 2023. The team's findings revealed that the total length of the corridor spans approximately 25 kilometers, with plans for the establishment of 10 tentative stations along the route.

Mr. Kaushal directed the officers of Haryana Metro Rail Corporation (HMRTC) to conduct a comprehensive scientific survey at metro stations to identify suitable locations for parking sites, gather valuable feedback from passengers, and devise strategies to enhance ridership.

The Chief Secretary stressed the significance of conducting the survey in a systematic manner, involving inputs from all stakeholders, including passengers, commuters, and local residents. He further urged the HMRTC to establish dedicated social media handles to facilitate the seamless sharing of passengers' suggestions and feedback.

Taking the visionary approach towards ensuring seamless execution, the Chief Minister has given approval to appoint M/S RITES as the consultant entrusted with the task of preparing a comprehensive Techno Feasibility Study for the metro extension from Ballabhgarh to Palwal. Simultaneously, the Deputy Commissioner of Palwal has been directed to prepare a Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP) for the region, ensuring an integrated approach to sustainable transportation.

He said that the Government of India has accorded sanction for the implementation of a metro connectivity project in Haryana. The project will connect Millennium City Centre in Gurugram to Cyber City in Gurugram, with a spur to Dwarka Expressway. The project will be implemented by the Haryana Mass Rapid Transport Corporation Limited (HMRTC), a 50:50 joint venture between the Government of India (GoI) and the Government of Haryana (GoH). The project will cover a length of 28.50 kilometers and is estimated to cost Rs. 5452.72 crore. The project is expected to be completed in four years from the date of sanction. The project will have 27 stations.

It was apprised in the meeting that the metro connectivity project from Vatika Chowk to Panchgaon will encompass a tentative route length of 30 km. To ensure meticulous planning and execution, M/s RITES has been appointed as the consultant for the project and will be responsible for preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR).

Mr. Kaushal further stated that Rapid Metro Gurugram has experienced remarkable growth in ridership, with the number of riders increasing to 33,97,221 from April 1 to June 30, 2023, as compared to the corresponding period of the previous year, which recorded 22,38,227 riders. This impressive surge reflects an increase of 51.78 percent in ridership, indicating a substantial rise in the metro's popularity and usage.

Additional Chief Secretary, Finance Department, Mr. Anurag Rastogi, Haryana Urban Development Authority Chief Administrator, Mr. Ajit Balaji Joshi, Additional Chief Secretary, Town, and Country Planning, Mr.  Arun Gupta, Principal Secretary Transport Department, Mr. Navdeep Singh Virk, CEO, GMDA, Mr. P. C Meena and other senior officers also attended the meeting.