RRTS: Work on laying tracks likely to start next wk in Gzb

Ghaziabad: The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) is likely to start laying tracks on the Sahibabad-Duhai stretch for the Regional Rapid Rail Transit System by next week. The 17km-stretch is a priority section and has a deadline of 2023.
“The railway tracks have reached the construction site. An 8km-long viaduct on the priority section is ready and the work to lay the tracks is expected to start by next week,” said Puneet Vats, chief public relations officer, NCRTC.
The corporation is also preparing a draft for a value capture funding model along the 82km-long RRTS corridor. Officials said it is likely to be ready in about 20 days and after that, it will be sent to the state cabinet for approval.
“The corridor from Sarai Kale Khan to Meerut will change the landscape of the region completely. Areas under its influence zone will witness a hike in property rates,” said Asheesh Shivpuri, chief architect and town planner, Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA). “The NCRTC has proposed a hike in the purchasable floor area ratio (FAR) from the current rate of 1.5 to 4. It means that in areas close to RRTS stations, additional construction will be allowed and that will generate more revenue. The corporation has also proposed a hike on external development charges,” he added. The RRTS project cost has been pegged at Rs 30,724 crore and the state government share is Rs 6,500 crore.
In 2019, NCRTC had prepared its first draft of value capture funding model for the corridor and proposed a hike in stamp duty for areas under GDA by 1%. But it was rejected by the development authority.