UP CM flags off Metro trials in Kanpur, says PM could launch service in 4-6 weeks

KANPUR: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday flagged off the trial run of the Kanpur Metro, saying the city’s people will soon have access to the best transport facility and Prime Minister Narendra Modi could launch the service in the next four to six weeks.
As soon as the CM pressed the button, the decked-up Metro train, stationed inside the Depot, began moving. It then came out of the Depot onto the main line and the trial commenced. On the first day of the trial, the train ran at a speed of 60 km/hour between Geeta Nagar cross-over and IIT Metro station. The trials are being carried out under the strict supervision of Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO).
Speaking on the occasion, the CM said, “It will be our effort to get the Metro service launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the next four-six weeks. The start of Metro services would be a treat for Kanpurites as they will get its benefits.”
“I am thankful to Kumar Keshav Ji, managing director, Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation Limited. Apart from this, I am grateful to the Prime Minister and Hardeep Singh Puri Ji wholeheartedly for their cooperation in this project. When it is opened for the general public, Prime Minister Modi will come to launch it,” he said.
“The trial run of Kanpur Metro has commenced before its scheduled time. Within the next four to six weeks, the people of Kanpur will have a better public transport facility to commute. I congratulate all of you in advance. Kanpur has now become a metro city in itself. Metro service will provide great facility to the residents of Kanpur from the point of view of public transport,” he said, adding that the achievement of Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC) in completing the work in time is commendable as the entire world has been facing problems due to the Corona pandemic.
“There was no Metro in the state in 2017. Now, Metro trains are running in Lucknow, Ghaziabad, Noida and Greater Noida. Apart from this, Kanpur will get it soon. Uttar Pradesh is the only state in the country to provide Metro facilities in five districts and it is a great achievement,” the CM said at the function held on the occasion.
The CM also flayed the previous governments for the delay in Metro project. “Kanpur was supposed to get the gift of Metro earlier, but it could not happen due to the negative and corrupt attitude of the previous governments,” he said.
Earlier, the CM saw the facilities at the Metro Depot. He went inside the Operations Control Centre (OCC) and observed the facilities. He was briefed by Kumar Keshav about the OCC. Several other senior officials were also present.
The CM also boarded a coach of the stationed Metro train and saw it from the inside. He was briefed about the state-of-the-art Metro and the facilities for the passengers. He was accompanied by UP ministers Satish Mahana, Neelima Katiyar, MP Satyadeo Pachauri, IAS officer Durga Shankar Mishra, BJP MLAs and others.
After the inspection, the CM hit the button and the Metro started moving and went outside the Depot.
UPMRC claimed that it had constructed the priority section of Lucknow Metro project in over two years time, carried out the trials and then that was the fastest work to have been done. But the trial on the priority section of Kanpur is being done in less than two years. The work on Kanpur Metro had started on November 15, 2019.
The UPMRC MD, while talking to the media persons after the CM’s programme, said, “It would be our effort to start the Metro services on the priority corridor in the next one and half months. The finishing work at Metro stations is going at full speed and in the next one and a half months, the finishing work will be over.”
Kanpur Metro to have 2 corridors
1st Corridor: Between IIT-Kanpur and Naubasta. This corridor will be 23.8-km- long. There will be a total of 21 stations on this corridor, including seven underground stations. On this route, Metro will run 8.6 km (out of 23.8 kms) under the ground.
The priority corridor is part of the first corridor between IIT and Naubasta. The priority corridor is 9-km-long and has nine stations.
2nd Corridor: Between CSA University and Barra-8. This corridor will be 8.6- km-long and will have eight metro stations, including four underground stations.
The project is expected to be completed in five years.