Badal gives go-ahead to Ludhiana Metro project

Chandigarh, July 17 (IANS) The Ludhiana Metro project will soon roll out after Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal Tuesday gave a go-ahead to the Rs.10,300 crore mass transport scheme.

According to the plan, the project will be completed within five years, a spokesperson of the chief minister's office said here.

A detailed presentation on the project was made by the local government department and Punjab Infrastructure Development Board before Badal and other senior functionaries here Tuesday.

"It was decided in the meeting that the land required for the project would be provided by the state government with minimal displacement of the people across the city," the spokesperson said.

"At the same time, emphasis would be made to execute the underground Metro corridor, especially in the densely-populated areas, though it was quite capital intensive as comparable to fully or partly elevated corridor. The prime objective was to avoid undue harassment to the people on account of their dislocation," the spokesperson said.

Ludhiana, 110 km from here, is one of the country's biggest industrial hubs.

Owing to its expansion over the last three decades, Ludhiana has become a congested and chaotic city. It has a population of over 3.5 million.

Badal also approved the proposal of the local government department for setting up a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for the smooth and effective implementation of the Metro project.

Badal said that at the time when traffic congestion on the roads of Ludhiana had increased manifold and resulted in heightened air pollution and accident risks, the Metro would be the only viable solution and provide for fast, safe and low-cost transport system.

The Metro will have a total length of about 29 km and 27 stations.

The Ludhiana Metro project will now need approval from the urban development and other union ministries.