Nagpur: Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari plans to extend the Nagpur Broad Gauge Metro up to Amravati, Chandrapur, Gondia, Wadsa (in Vidarbha), Chhindwada and Betul in Madhya Pradesh. In the first phase, it will however, connect the city with Ramtek, Wardha, Bhandara Road and Narkhed.
BG Metro will be run by MahaMetro on Indian Railways (IR) tracks. The state cabinet has cleared the project and is now awaiting clearance from the central government. According to Gadkari, the first phase will start in six months.
Gadkari said that the design speed of the BG Metro will be 160 kilometres per hour. “However, it will only go up to 140 kmph. It will have three coaches – economy class, deluxe class and restaurant car. There will be televisions inside the coaches so that travellers can enjoy their journey,” he said.
The minister further said that he had asked Vidarbha Industries’ Association (VIA) to encourage entrepreneurs to buy BG Metros. “The cost of a BG Metro is Rs36 crore. The Union ministry for medium, small and micro enterprises (MSME), headed by me, will provide loan to industrialists, who want to buy a Metro. While the industrialist will own the Metro, it will be run by MahaMetro,” he added.
Gadkari said that the BG Metro will reach Amravati in 1 hour 10 minutes and Wardha in 35 minutes. “However, the fare of the Metro will be the same as that of the state transport (ST) buses,” he added.
The minister further said that he was trying to attract big companies for manufacturing BG Metro coaches in Nagpur so that the cost of a train was reduced.
On use of the Central Road Fund (CRF), Gadkari said that he sanctioned Rs1,800 crore so far for the district. “NHAI has cleared the proposal to extend the Nagpur-Umred four lane road up to Sakkardara Square. This will cost another Rs55 crore,” he added.
“We will demolish the existing old flyover linking Golibar Square with Kamal Square and build a new one in its place. We will build a flyover from University Campus Square to the Regional Transport Office (RTO) on Amravati Road,” said Gadkari.