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The Noida Metro's Blue Line extension, initially estimated at Rs 1,517 crore in a 2018 report, is now projected to cost Rs 1,873 crore, according to a revised project report submitted by the Delhi Metro. The revised estimate introduces new financial challenges and complexities to the project, necessitating a comprehensive examination of the funding structure and stakeholder contributions.
The latest project report suggests that the state government, through its agencies, should bear 80% of the project cost, amounting to Rs 1,225.34 crore. Additionally, Uttar Pradesh (UP) will incur Rs 111.8 crore in state taxes. The remaining 20% of the project cost, approximately Rs 647 crore, is expected to be covered by the central government and the project developer.
Out of the total land required for the route alignment, which spans nearly 26,691 sqm, nearly 7,690 sqm is privately owned. The cost estimation for acquiring this private land is over Rs 223 crore. The financial implications of land acquisition form a significant part of the revised project cost and necessitate careful consideration and negotiation.
According to the report, the Centre is expected to contribute 15.3% of the project cost, translating to nearly Rs 235 crore. Additionally, central taxes amounting to Rs 71.9 crore are factored into the funding structure. The distribution of financial responsibilities among the central and state governments highlights the collaborative nature of large-scale infrastructure projects.
Funding remains a critical hurdle for the Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA), the agency overseeing the project. Earlier considerations involved exploring options such as obtaining a loan from the National Capital Region (NCR) Planning Board. Alternative ideas, including the metro neo concept and two alternative routes (Vaishali to Mohan Nagar and Vaishali to Electronic City), were evaluated but eventually discarded.
Manvendra Singh, the chief engineer of GDA, explained that the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) submitted the first project report for the metro corridor in 2018. However, the project was put on hold, and it was only in June of the previous year that a new plan was proposed. This new plan aimed to connect Electronic City and Vaishali on DMRC's Blue Line, covering a 5.8-km metro line via Indirapuram. A joint survey conducted by DMRC and GDA examined the feasibility of this route.
In September, the project reverted to the original route, which sought to link the Sahibabad rapid rail station with Noida. Singh clarified that when the first Detailed Project Report (DPR) was prepared in 2018, the Namo Bharat corridor was not operational. The subsequent opening of the 17km priority section of the rapid rail corridor prompted GDA to request a fresh route plan from DMRC.
The revised plan proposes linking the Sahibabad metro station with the existing Sahibabad Namo Bharat station through a foot overbridge, serving as an interchange. This decision reflects a dynamic approach to project planning, incorporating changes based on operational considerations and evolving infrastructure in the region.
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