Ludhiana Metro

Ludhiana Metro
Overview
LocaleLudhiana, Punjab
Transit typeRapid transit
Number of lines2 (Phase 1)
Number of stations27
HeadquartersLudhiana, Punjab, India
Operation
Operation will startCancelled[1]
Operator(s)Punjab Metro Rail Corporation (PMRC)
Train length4–6 coaches
Technical
System length28.83 kilometres (17.91 mi) (planned)
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification25 kV, 50 Hz AC through overhead catenary
Average speed33 km/h (21 mph)
Top speed80 km/h (50 mph)

Ludhiana Metro was a proposed rapid transit system for the city of Ludhiana, Punjab.[2] It is expected to cost ₹10,516 crore (US$1.97 billion).

History

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation was asked to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) in 2007. The state government estimated the project cost to be ₹30 billion (US$360 million) at 2007 prices.[3] The DPR was scheduled to be finalized by the end of September 2012.[4]

The DMRC report proposed 2 corridors. The first corridor of Ludhiana Metro will be 15.798 km long having 14 stations. The second corridor will be 13.035 km long with 13 stations. It will cost around ₹6,600 crore (US$790 million).[5] A detailed feasibility study has been done by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd which took one and half years. The DMRC will be the Punjab Government's official consultant on the project. A special purpose vehicle, the Punjab Metro Rail Corporation (PMRC), will be established to execute the project.[6]

On 17 July 2012, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal approved the project in the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) or Build Operate Transfer (BOT) model.[7][8] On 2 September 2012, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal appointed the Ludhiana Municipal Commissioner as managing director of Ludhiana Metro and the director of Chawla textiles Mr.Aman Chawla will be responsible for time bound completion.[9]

Routes

The metro in Ludhiana will be of total 29 kilometers, of which 22 km will be elevated and 7 km will be underground. The two proposed corridors are:

Corridor I: Ayali Chowk – BBMB Power House This line will run from East to West following a distance of 15.798 km and will have 14 stations – 10 elevated and 4 underground.[10] The stations are :

  1. Ayali Chowk
  2. Rajguru Nagar
  3. Aggar Nagar
  4. Verka Milk Plant
  5. PAU
  6. Aarti Chowk
  7. Bharat Nagar Chowk
  8. Guru Nanak Stadium
  9. Gurdwara Dukh Niwaran
  10. Civil Hospital
  11. Samrala Chowk
  12. Vardhman Mills
  13. Jamalpur
  14. BBMB Power House

Corridor II: Gill Village – Rahon Road Chungi This line will run from North to South covering a distance of 13.035 km and will have 13 stations – 6 elevated and 7 underground.[11] The stations are :

  1. Gill village
  2. GNE College
  3. ATI Chowk
  4. Janta Nagar Chowk
  5. Gill Chowk
  6. City Bus Station
  7. Railway Station
  8. Basti Jodhewal
  9. Rahon Road Chungi
  10. Tibba road(near Satsang Ghar)
  11. Salem Taberi
  12. Kakobal Road
  13. Tajpur Road
  14. Clock tower

Project Details

Estimated per kilometer cost for the construction of the metro will be Rs 1.75 billion for elevated track and Rs 3.25 billion for the underground. The average cost per kilometer is around Rs 3 billion.

There will be two maintenance depots for the metro, one will be near Baddowal and will spread over 26 hectares, and the second depot will be near Gill village spread over 21 hectares. At these depots, washing, cleaning, repair and maintenance of the train engine and bogies will be carried out.

The ticketing system of the Ludhiana Metro will be similar as of Delhi Metro, tentatively Rs 10 for first two kilometers and then there is formula to calculate further fares.

The DPR further states that the state government should exempt Punjab Value Added Tax (VAT) on the metro, and also charge no tax be on the electricity required for the operations. It has also proposed exemption of municipal taxes.

Also a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) should be set up for the Ludhiana Metro and should be registered under Companies Act. It should be a public sector undertaking of the state government and be named "Punjab Metro Rail Corporation".

Earlier, the total cost of the project was estimated at Rs 105.16 billion and was to be operational by 2014. Of the 29 km, some 12 km were underground, while rest would be above the ground.

See also

References

  1. ^ Metro plan dumped, govt doles out Rs 1,250 cr-BRTS ahead of LS polls
  2. ^ Harpreet Bajwa. "Metro in Ludhiana by 2014". Express India. Archived from the original on 16 March 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2011.
  3. ^ Ludhiana MC identifying land for metro – Hindustan Times
  4. ^ Metro rail project report to be finalized by 30 September – The Times of India
  5. ^ "Ludhiana Metro project to have two corridors". Business Standard. 18 November 2010. Retrieved 15 January 2011.
  6. ^ The Pioneer
  7. ^ Rs 10,300cr Metro project gets nod - The Times of India
  8. ^ ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/nod-to-ludhiana-metro-project/1023992.html
  9. ^ 2-corridor Ludhiana Metro to have 27 stations - Hindustan Times Archived 5 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ "The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Ludhiana Stories".
  11. ^ Sukhbir puts Ludhiana Metro Project on fast track – Hindustan Times Archived 5 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine