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In an effort to fast-track the Nagpur metro project, the developer has decided to take on lease two rakes from Chennai Metro Rail Ltd. It will enable Nagpur metro to advance its commercial operation by 12 months and start the services by December.
In the first phase, 5.5-km route from Mihan to Nagpur airport will be open for commercial operations. The Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL), which is implementing the project, will have to pay ₹24 crore for a three-year lease.
Managing Director of MMRCL Brijesh Dixit told BusinessLine that hiring coaches on a lease is unprecedented in Indian metro history. It will enable faster commissioning of the project. Since the technical parameters of both the metro projects are similar, the rakes can be used in Nagpur, he said.
Orders for Nagpur metro’s own coaches have already been placed with China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC), a Chinese government company. Delivery is expected by the end of 2018.
Dixit said that out of the 38 km of metro lines, work is under progress on 22 km. In effect, 32 per cent of the total project work has already been completed.
The project has a sanctioned funding of €500 million by KFW Bank of Germany and €130 million by AFD of France. Funds have started flowing and this year alone, the government has provided ₹900 crore, he said.
Dixit pointed that since MMRCL will also be implementing the Pune metro project and other forthcoming projects in Maharashtra, similar synergies are expected between the projects.
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