If the proposal gets nod, cost of the project will be reduced by 40%

JAIPUR: To reduce project cost, the Jaipur Metro Rail Corporation (JMRC) is mulling a proposal to keep the major portion of the 24-km Jaipur Metro Phase II (Ambabari to Sitapura) above the ground (elevated) and not below.

If the proposal gets nod, the cost of the Rs 10,500cr project will be reduced by a whopping 40%. A senior JMRC official said, “ To reduce costs, we have proposed to construct an elevated corridor on major part of the route. While construction cost of an elevated corridor is Rs 200 crore per km, it goes up Rs 550 crore per km underground.”

In the detailed project report (DPR) prepared in 2014, it was mentioned that project required land worth Rs 875 crore and construction cost to the tune of Rs 9,500 crore. “It is believed, if same amount of land is acquired for the project in today’s date, the JMRC would require Rs 1,600 crore. Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) officials said if the major part of the project is carried overground, it would require less amount than mentioned in the previous DPR. The estimated cost for acquiring land will be reduced to Rs 800.”

The corporation has also suggested to construct a 10-km elevated corridor from SMS Hospital to Sansar Chand Road via MI Road. “ If all the suggestions are approved and implemented, the entire project cost could be reduced to Rs 6000 crore. While construction cost will be Rs 5,200 crore, Rs 800 crore will be needed for land acquisition,” added an official.

Officials also said cost of the project could be brought down as GST on rolling stock (train) and other construction items had been reduced in the recent past. “Suggestion to run three coaches, instead of four to cut costs , was also proposed,” added the official.

The state will seek financial assistance from the Centre to construct the Phase-II corridor. Both the Centre and the state would invest 50-50% to develop the project.

After the change in regime, hope of launching the phase-II project has revived as Metro was the pet project of chief minister Ashok Gehlot in his previous tenure. The JMRC prepared its first DPR in 2011 during the Congress government’s tenure. However, the project has not seen the light of day even after seven years.

Official said the (JMRC) had already appointed Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to review the detailed project report (DPR) of Jaipur Metro Phase-II. “After terminating the contract of French company EGIS Rail SA, the corporation appointed DMRC for reviewing a revised DPR which will be submitted in December,” an official said.

