Ghaziabad Metro Expansion: GDA Seeks Alternate Funding Pattern For Proposed Corridors, Plans To Integrate With RRTS At Sahibabad

The Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) is working tirelessly to develop an optimal funding pattern for the two metro extension projects proposed in Ghaziabad, India.

The proposed lines are from Vaishali to Mohan Nagar and Noida Sector-62 to Sahibabad — which will link Ghaziabad’s Red Line to the Delhi Metro’s Blue Line.

The state government had denied GDA funding earlier in January. The agency had resent a funding proposal and the two DPRs to the state government for approval in response to instructions given by deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya during his 5 April visit to Ghaziabad, as per reports.

The proposal was based on sharing the total cost of the Rs 3,686 crore project by the state, Centre, and other agencies such as GDA, Housing Board and UPSIDC.

The proposition called for a 50:20:30 ratio, with the state bearing 50 per cent of the cost.

However, on 8 May, the Uttar Pradesh government declined the authority’s request for 50 per cent state funding for two proposed extensions in Ghaziabad — stating that the maximum state funding share in other Metro projects in Uttar Pradesh is 27 per cent, as per Hindustan Times report.

GDA had advocated that the two metro extension projects be funded along the lines of Lucknow and Agra. While in these cities, the state and central governments share 25 per cent of each project's cost while the rest is obtained through loans and bonds.

Following this, the authority is now working on a new funding pattern to ensure that the projects are concluded without delay.

According to the budget estimate provided by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) in January 2020 — GDA needs Rs 1,517 crore for the Noida Sector-62 to Sahibabad route, and Rs 1,808.22 crore for the Vaishali to Mohan Nagar route.

Officials say GDA is experiencing a funding crisis due to two loans of around Rs 1,500 crore obtained to finance the Hindon elevated road and to pay farmers more for the Madhuban Bapudham project.

Major Interchange at Sahibabad to Connect Rapid Rail and Proposed Metro Extension

Additionally, GDA aims to build a key interchange at Sahibabad by connecting the RRTS corridor with the proposed Sector 62 to Sahibabad Metro extension.

GDA officials are scheduled to meet with DMRC officials soon to reassess the progress of the metro corridor.

Brijesh Kumar, secretary, GDA, said, “We will soon hold meetings with DMRC officials to reassess the feasibility of the Sector 62 to Sahibabad Metro extension (Blue Line). Sahibabad already has a RRTS station coming up, and our focus is to integrate the two systems for the benefit of residents. Following the meeting, the DMRC will be requested to prepare a revised project report that incorporates the interchange in Sahibabad”.

The Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridor, which stretches across 82km — connects Delhi (three stations), Ghaziabad (eight stations), and Meerut (14 stations) through RapidX trains.

The 17 km priority section in Ghaziabad — consisting of five stations, is nearing completion and is scheduled to be inaugurated soon.

The stations at Sarai Kale Khan, Anand Vihar, and Ghaziabad City are proposed as interchange hubs with the Metro network within the RRTS system.

According to HT report, the officials of National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC), agency which is developing the RRTS project, said that they have already made provision at the Sahibabad station for multi-modal integration.

“We already have integration with UP Roadways bus station wth RRTS station at Sahibabad. We have already made provision at Sahibabad and it has been designed in such a manner that future integration with other modes like the metro can be made,” said Puneet Vats, chief PRO of NCRTC.