The Uttar Pradesh government has declined the Ghaziabad development authority’s (GDA) request for 50% state funding for two proposed Metro extensions in Ghaziabad— Mohan Nagar to Vaishali and Sector 62 Noida to Sahibabad — stating that the maximum state funding share in other metro projects in Uttar Pradesh is 27%, GDA officials said.
GDA secretary Brijesh Kumar said that the authority had asked the state to issue directions and the funding pattern through which the two extensions can be pursued.
Based on the current price index, there may be a 10% cost increase. Once state officials send the funding pattern and projected state government share, the authority will revise the DPR prices. The possible emerging funding pattern may include contributions from other departments, state funding, and the Centre’s contribution, he added.
The UP government recently called a meeting of various departments to address funding issues for the two proposed metro project extensions. According to Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) officials, the meeting was scheduled for May 2, 2023. The two metro lines would link Ghaziabad’s Red Line to the Delhi Metro’s Blue Line.
GDA requires Rs 1,517 crore for the Noida Sector 62 to Sahibabad section and Rs 1,808.22 crore for the Vaishali to Mohan Nagar section, according to the budget estimate by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) in January 2020.
Officials said that GDA has been facing a funding crisis after securing two loans amounting to around Rs 1,500 crore to finance the Hindon elevated road project and to pay farmers increased land compensation for the Madhuban Bapudham project. The government had denied state funding to GDA earlier in January 2023.
GDA had been considering various options to link the two metro route extensions due to a lack of funds. GDA officials had proposed a ropeway link connection and even Metrolite for cities with low ridership, which can work as a feeder system for existing metro systems – and Metro Neo, a low-cost mass rapid transit system for tier 2/ tier 3 cities. However, in December 2022, GDA agreed that metro connectivity for the two routes would be the best option.
See also: Ghaziabad Metro Station: Route Map, Fare, Timing, and Stations
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