Maha Metro submits feasibility report of Nashik Metro Rail project

Nashik (Urban Transport News): The Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation (Maha-Metro) recently completed the project feasibility report for the ambitious Nashik Metro Rail project. According to the report, the project would cost over Rs 1,800 crores. The feasibility report of Nashik Metro Rail project is submitted to Government of Maharashtra, City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Limited (CIDCO) and Nashik Municipal Corporation.

In the feasibility report, deployment of high-speed mass transit urban trams - with capacity to carry up to 80 passengers at a time - has been proposed by the Maha Metro. Based on the feedback received from the concerned authority, the Maha Metro will prepare a detailed project report (DPR). The feasibility report for the Nashik Metro was prepared after an extensive three-month survey of the city. Talking to TOI, Dr. Brijesh Dixit, Managing Director of Maha Metro said-

Two trackless elevated corridors - about 28 kilometres long - would be constructed as part of the Nashik project. The corridors will accommodate high-speed rubber-tyred urban trams drawing power from overhead electric cables.

Nashik Metro Route Network

According to the feasibility report, the Nashik Metro Rail project will consist with two elevated corridors - one with a length of 18.45 km stretch will connect Shrimik Nagar to Nashik Road railway station with 17 stations and the second corridor with a length of 9.45 km will connect Gangapur to Mumbai Naka with 10 stations. The high-speed trams can be on the city roads for about 25 km under battery power and once the batteries drain, the trams will be run on the elevated corridors to with the help of electricity power.

Our survey has found that a conventional metro will not be sustainable in Nashik. The peak hour ridership in the city is a maximum of 8,000 people per hour. For a conventional metro plan to be viable, peak hour ridership should be at least 20,000 people per hour, said Dr. Dixit.

According to Maha Metro officials, the Nashik Metro project which consisting elevated corridors and deploying high-speed trams would be a first type of rolling stock for the country. However, this model is popular in overseas. Nashik could become the first city in India with use such type of urban public transit system.

If the project get approval from the state government as well as Centre, it would take Maha Metro five years to finish the project and this project would be able to cater to public transport needs here for the next 30 years. Two major overseas financial institutions from Germany and France have also shown interest in funding the Nashik Metro Rail project.