Nagpur Metro to complete work of entire routes of Phase 1 by December

Nagpur, India (Urban Transport News): Despite Covid lockdown, Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (Maha Metro) is working at feverish speed to complete the remaining work of phase I of Nagpur Metro. Under the leadership of managing director Dr. Brijesh Dixit, two out of four reaches of the project have already been completed and the remaining two reaches are expected to become operational by the year-end, said Maha Metro Officials.

The 38-km long Nagpur Metro is one of the fastest projects in the country. The work started in May 2015. The trial run of at grade section of Reach I (Sitabuldi to Khapri) was held within 28 months from the date of commencement of construction work. On the other hand, it took nearly 23 years to complete 17 km of Kolkata Metro. In Nagpur, a ROB took 14 years while another outside the city took over 8 years.

Presently, Reach I and Reach III (Sitabuldi to Lokmanya Nagar) of Nagpur Metro are fully completed. Reach II (Sitabuldi to Automotive Square) and Reach IV (Sitabuldi to Prajapati Nagar) will be completed by December this year. The viaducts are nearing completion and tracks have been laid to a large extent. Many stations are in advanced stages of completion. A double-decker flyover is also being built on Kamptee Road.

The expenditure by Nagpur Metro in March 2021 was the highest ever – Rs 685 crore – despite coronavirus restrictions. In March 2019, the Maha Metro had spent Rs 669 crores.

Maha Metro is also executing the work of the Pune Metro Rail project. Due to the timely completion of work and quality management, Maha Metro has got several other assignments including the preparation of a detailed project report (DPR) for Thane and Warangal Metro. CIDCO had also asked Maha Metro to complete the balance civil work of Phase 1 of the Navi Mumbai Metro Rail project. It is also executing several road projects in Nagpur.