New legislation to replace laws on metro operations

Union Housing and Urban Affairs secretary Durga Shankar Mishra on Thursday said that a new metro law will replace the existing two laws relating to construction, operation and maintenance of metro networks across the country.

"The new law has been warranted because the paradigm in the field has changed. The issue of land acquisition and public-private-partnership model has evolved, and the legislation that will replace the existing laws will "create an ecosystem that will further the growth story of the metros", Mishra said.

The Urban Affairs secretary was interacting with reporters on the sidelines of the launch of 'I-Metros' or Indian Metros Rail Organisations Society, an association of all Indian metro rail companies, at a conference on 'Indian Metros: Collaborating for Excellence' held at Metro Bhawan on Thursday.

"The two existing laws related to operation and maintenance, and construction, have become very old, and they were formulated when the scenario was completely different. Now the situation has changed. And, the new law would seek to address all the issues faced by metro networks," he said.

"We have been working on it for the last two years. And. The legislative department (of the Law Ministry) is giving final shape, after which it will go to Cabinet as per the due procedure," he said.

The Metro Railway (Operations and Maintenance) Act, 2002, is an Act of the Parliament that governs the operations of metro rail systems in India.

Mishra also said that currently the span of all metro networks operational in the country stands at 425 km. And, another 700 kms are under construction in 13 cities, he said.

Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha, in his address said this new platform (I-Metros) "will go a long way, if things progress in the right spirt by adopting the best practices and the latest technologies".

Mishra said, this new platform will allow them to share experiences, challenges, and learn from each other for the better.

"The MDs, directors, would be connected. And, new technologies, new innovations can be shared. Also, we will bring in our Institute of Urban Transport, so that it can be shared in electronic mode," the Urban Affairs secretary said.