Construction work of Agra Metro begins, PM Modi lays foundation stone of project

(Image Credit: UPMRC)

Agra, India (Urban Transport News): Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi today virtually laid the foundation stone of the Agra Metro Rail project from New Delhi. Union Minister of Housing & Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath, and other dignitaries have also attended the event at 15 Battalion PAC parade ground in Agra.

Kumar Keshav, Managing Director of Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC) has performed 'Bhoomi Poojan' at the proposed Taj East Gate Metro Station site at 10.30 am.

While launching the construction of the project, the Prime Minister said that in the six years after 2014, more than 450 km of metro lines are operational in the country and about 1000 km of metro lines are in progress. The country's first rapid rail transport system is being built between Delhi and Meerut.
The 14-lane expressway between Delhi-Meerut will also serve the people of this region soon.

Commenting on the progress of metro rail projects in the country, Union Minister for Housing & Urban Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri said metro trains are currently operating in 18 cities of the country. The total line of the metro line is 702 km. Currently, the construction of 1016 km of metro lines is underway in 27 cities.

The construction of the Taj East Gate Metro station will begin in front of TDI Mall on Fatehabad Road. Workers of the contractor Sam (India) Builtwell have dug round pits to erect pillars. They will build an elevated viaduct and three metro stations at Taj East Gate, Basal and Fatehabad Road Metro Station of Corridor-1.

The Agra Metro project comprises 2 corridors with a total length of 29.4 km and connects major tourist attractions like Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Sikandra with railway stations and bus stands. The project will benefit the 26 lakh population of the city of Agra and will also cater to more than 60 lakh tourists who visit Agra every year. It will provide an environment-friendly Mass Rapid Transit System to the historic city of Agra. The estimated cost of the project will be Rs 8,379.62 crores which will be completed in 5 years.

Earlier, on 8th March 2019, Prime Minister inaugurated the Agra Metro project along with the commencement of commercial operations of Lucknow Metro on the entire 23 km long North-South corridor from ‘CCS Airport to Munshipulia’.

For more updates, please explore the Agra Metro page of Urban Transport News.