The Nagpur Metro Rail will be completed on a fast track basis and the “ultra modern rail network will change the face of the city”, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said today.
The Metro will be a unique gift to the city in 21st century with German finance agency KFW sanctioning Rs 3,750 crore as loan to part fund the project, Fadnavis said at the ‘Project Agreement’ signing ceremony held here in the presence of Union Transport and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari.
Metro project’s Managing Director Brajesh Dixit and KFW Director Peter Hilliges here today signed the Project Agreement for funding of Rs 3,750 crore, which will be utilised for procurement of rolling stock, cars, electricity supply, traction and other infrastructure facilities.
“The Nagpur Metro Rail will pick up the right momentum after the signing of the Project Agreement with German finance agency KFW of Rs 3,750 crores loan today for the prestigious project, and its speed towards completion will be accelerated further,” Fadnavis said.
The project, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in August 2014, was making a steady progress, he said adding that with the inflow of funds, it will be accelerated soon.
On April 1, a formal agreement was signed in New Delhi in presence of German Ambassador to India Dr Martin Ney and the Urban Development Ministry officials.
Fadnavis said Maharashtra government and the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways were making efforts to integrate the Metro Rail with National Highways passing through the city.
“Our efforts will be to make the Metro a sustainable project,” he said.
On the occasion, Gadkari complemented Metro project team
for speedy work, and said the rail network will save electricity to the tune of 65 per cent by using solar power.
He said efforts were on to make it cent per cent solar power-run Metro, which will be India’s first such project.
Pre-cast fabrication will be used in the project and it will be integrated with the existing railway stations and National Highways, Gadkari said.
He called on Metro rail authorities to go for international competition for designing station buildings in the project.
The minister also suggested to alter an alignment between Nagpur airport and Sitabuldi phase-one project at a junction to integrate London Street route here with Hingana residential area in western part of city, which was endorsed by Fadnavis also.
Gadkari said all efforts will be made to make the project less costly, save at least Rs 1,500 crores, and to make it the best Metro in the country.
KFW Director Hilliges expressed happiness at being associated with the project, the first such in Nagpur.
Dixit explained the finer points of the Metro.
District Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule was also present on the occasion.
PTI