AHMEDABAD (Metro Rail News): Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri said that India with 810 km of Metro Rail has overtaken Japan with regard to the length of Metro projects. “After the inauguration of Ahmedabad Metro, the coverage of Metro Rail in India reaches 810 km. It is a matter of pride that India is among leading countries with respect to the total length of Metro Rail,” Puri said, adding that the country has not only overtaken Japan, but also has 982 km of metro rail under construction.
“Once this (982 kilometers of Metro Rail) finishes, India will overtake South Korea and United States and will reach the second position in the world. I am expecting this to happen within next 1-2 years,” he added. Puri said that the metrorail network in India was limited to 248 kilometers between 2002-14.
The first modern network was started in Delhi in 2002 by Vajpayee government. Only 248 kilometres of the metro network expanded up till 2014. There has been noticeable progress in the development of the metro since Prime Minister Narendra Modi took over the development of the nation in May 2014, he remarked.
According to Puri, barely Rs 1.57 lakh crore was invested in urban development in India between 2004 and 2014. However, Rs 16.5 lakh crore has been invested during the past eight years. It is around ten times greater. By 2030, Ahmedabad would rank as India’s eighth megacity.
Kawazu Kunihiko, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim, Embassy of Japan said that “We would like to congratulate on the successful completion of the project and the ceremony held on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Japan. Due to the rapid expansion of population and economic activities, traffic congestion and traffic pollution have become a major concern for the city. Ahmedabad metro will provide the alternative choice of city transportation and shall also ease traffic congestion and pollution.” “ The metro is well planned as a part of the integrated urban transportation of the city. Further, it is expected to contribute to further economic development and the further transaction in Ahmedabad,” Kunihiko added.
“JICA has been assisting India in achieving its socioeconomic development goals, and this Metro Rail System Network is one example”, stated Saito Mitsunori, Chief Representative of JICA’s India Office.
