Speed up metro rail projects in cities: Chief secy to officials

SUGGESTIONS FROM THE PEOPLE SHOULD ALSO BE INVITED FOR PROPOSED ROUTES IN ALL FOUR PLACES SO THAT TRAFFIC FACILITIES COULD BE PROPERLY IMPROVED.

ALOK RANJAN, chief secretary

Chief secretary Alok Ranjan on Friday directed the officers to prepare project reports of metro rail in Kanpur, Agra, Meerut and Varanasi within next three months.

In order to improve traffic system in these cities, the state government has planned metro rail on the pattern of Lucknow, where the project is already on the fast track. Ranjan has sought project report of Kanpur by July 31, followed by Agra by August 31, Meerut and Varanasi by September 30.

While going through the presentation of these projects here on Friday, Ranjan said the work in these cities should commence by January 2016. While laying stress on speedy work and proper coordination among various implementing agencies, Ranjan said that divisional commissioners of these cities would head the metro cell. Instructions were also issued to development authorities to provide manpower and other infrastructure facilities for proper implementation of the projects. He said a separate special purpose vehicle (SPV) would be constituted for all four projects consisting of managing director, executive director and other technical staff.

He said suggestions from the people should also be invited for proposed routes in all four places so that traffic facilities could be properly improved. He said adequate parking facilities should be earmarked outside proposed metro stations in these cities. He said there would be two corridors of 24 km and nine km in Kanpur. Similarly, there would be two cor- ridors of 11 km and 16 km each in Agra. In Varanasi it would have 19 km and nine km stretch. Meerut would have 20 km and 10 km long two corridors. Advisor, externally aided projects, Madhukar Jaitely, principal secretary housing Sadakant and divisional commissioners of Kanpur, Meerut, Agra and Varanasi were present at the meeting.

Overloading: At a separate meeting, the chief secretary directed the officers of PWD, mining and transport to jointly launch drive to stop overloading in trucks.