It’s nothing short of a big achievement for Nagpur Metro! (IE photo)

It’s nothing short of a big achievement for Nagpur Metro! The project was inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi in 2015 and on September 30, 2017, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari today flagged off the trial run of Nagpur Metro Rail. Noteworthy, Nagpur rail has become the fastest Metro project to reach the trial run stage, IE reported. After the trial run was flagged off on Saturday, a three-coach train steered by woman driver Sumedha Meshram travelled a distance of 5.6 km. The trial run was at the at-grade section (ground level) between the Mihan area and Khapri railway station. Here are some must-know facts about the Nagpur Metro Rail project:-

Funding for Nagpur Metro Rail project

– The Nagpur Metro Rail project has been funded by the Centre (20 per cent), Maharashtra government (20 per cent), Nagpur Municipal Corporation (5 per cent), Nagpur Improvement Trust (5 per cent) and most notably 50 per cent loan from Germany agency KFW (Rs 4,000 crore) and French agency AFD (Rs 600 crore).

Corridors and their length

The Rs 8,680-crore project is comprised of two corridors, east-west and north-south. The corridors have a total length of a little over 39 km.

Trial run period

The trial run will continue over the next two months. It will verify different safety parameters and for final safety certification by the Commissioner of Railway Safety.

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MAHA CARD for transportation

State Bank of India Chairperson Arundhati Bhattacharya was also present on the occasion. She launched MAHA CARD – It’s a common mobility card for various modes of transport.

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Nagpur metro extension

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis has assured that Nagpur Metro will be extended to the adjoining Kanhan, Hingana and Buttibori satellite towns.

Gadkari congratulated the MAHA-METRO for speedy and excellent quality implementation of the Nagpur metro rail project. MAHA METRO is being headed by Managing Director Brijesh Dixit.