Agra Metro project gets clearance from the Supreme Court of India

New Delhi, India (Urban Transport News): The Supreme Court of India on its order dated 14th July 2020 given clearance to go ahead for Taj City's most awaited Agra Metro Rail project, informed Durga Shankar Mishra, Secretary, Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) on 24th July 2020. In its order, the Apex Court has directed the Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation Limited (UPMRC), to ensure the plantation of 18,230 trees during the construction phase of the Agra Metro project in the Agra.

The court had appointed a Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to study the impact of the project from environmental consideration. A team had visited Agra on January 15 and 16, 2020 for detailed inspection of the alignment of the Agra Metro project. Based on its observation, the committee had submitted the report to the Apex Court on 10th February 2020 and had expressed satisfaction with the implementation strategy and measures being undertaken by UPMRC in implementing the Agra Metro project in the city.

After considering the report of CEC and the petition filed by UPMRC, the Supreme Court in its order dated 14th July 2020 permitted the nodal agency to proceed with the Agra Metro project. "Great news for country’s most popular tourist city of Taj that Hon’ble Apex Court has allowed Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation to implement Agra Metro project. I am personally delighted as I served Agra as District Magistrate in 1996-1998 & am Chairman of the Metro Company," tweeted Durga Shankar Mishra, Secretary, Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA).

"Congratulations to citizens of this historical city for they will have a world-class Metro system now. Hon’ble PM laid its foundation stone on 8th March 2019 but the work could not take off in view of Court’s stay order," he added. "I am sure with its outstanding track record in implementing Lucknow & Kanpur Metro, it will now take up the physical work at the site at a fast pace. I expect that project will be completed in time which will further the image of Agra as one of the top-most tourist destinations in the world & will help fast track the economic growth & development of the city and around," Mishra further said. Commenting on SC's order, Kumar Keshav, Managing Director of UPMRC said:

The UPMRC team will not leave any stone unturned in delivering this world-class transport project for Agra in the shortest possible time and fully comply with the recommendations of CEC while implementing this prestigious project as per the directions of SC.

Agra Metro will provide environment friendly, convenient, comfortable & hassle-free connectivity to major residential, commercial & tourist sites like Taj Mahal and Agra Fort etc. Agra Metro project has two metro corridors: Corridor-1 from Taj East Gate to Sikandra (14km) & Corridor-2 from Agra Cantt to Kalindi Vihar (15.4 km). It has 23 elevated and 8 underground metro stations. The estimated cost of this project is Rs 8,379.62 crore. The UPMRC has been engaged in preparing & planning design works for the project.

These are now at an advanced stage. Recently Agra Metro’s Rolling Stock & Telecom works have been awarded to Bombardier Transportation India, under' Make in India' initiative of Central Government. The Central Government on 28th February last year had approved the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the Agra Metro project and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid the foundation stone of the project on 8th March 2019 via video conferencing.