On August 17, 2024, Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Shri Manohar Lal, handed an update on the significant advancements in India’s Metro Rail and Rapid Rail Transit System( RRTS) systems. Addressing the media, Shri Lal detailed the emotional growth of the Metro Rail network in India, which has expanded from a modest 248 kilometers across five metropolises before 2014 to an expansive 945 kilometers in 21 metropolises.
Shri Lal praised the accelerated development in the Metro Rail sector, noting that the yearly construction rate of Metro lines has surged from 600 measures to 6 kilometers. He attributed this achievement to the devoted sweats of the government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.
The Minister blazoned that the Union Cabinet lately approved three major Metro systems –
** Bengaluru Metro Expansion ** A 44- kilometer extension featuring two new corridors to enhance connectivity in Bengaluru.
** Thane Metro Project ** A 29- kilometer network designed to palliate road traffic in Thane.
** Pune Metro Route ** A 5.5- kilometer line to boost civic mobility in Pune.
Shri Lal also stressed India’s strides in domestic manufacturing, with the country now operating four advanced metro trainer installations that have produced over 1,000 trainers in the once five times. This achievement supports colorful Metro systems nationwide.
With the rearmost blessings, India now has 1,018 kilometers of Metro lines under construction. Shri Lal proudly noted that India presently ranks third encyclopedically for Metro network length, behind China and the USA, and is on track to surpass the USA soon, thanks to the’ Make in India’ action.
Internationally, India’s Metro moxie is gaining traction. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation( DMRC) is laboriously working on Metro systems in Bangladesh and Jakarta and has attracted interest from Israel, Saudi Arabia, Kenya, and El Salvador for Metro development consultancy.
Regarding the RRTS, Shri Lal handed updates on the Delhi- Meerut corridor, a flagship design going Rs. 30,274 crore. presently, 34 kilometers of the 82- kilometer corridor are functional, with the ‘ NaMo Bharat’ train formerly in service. The full completion of this corridor is anticipated by June 2025.
The Minister conceded detainments in fresh RRTS corridors due to some resistance but assured that the remaining corridors, connecting Gurugram, Manesar, Dharuhera, Sonepat, and Panipat, will be sanctioned soon.