Rapid Metro builder plans to run it by March 2013

 Metro rail systems are drivers of development in any city, said Union urban development secretary Sudhir Krishna at the trail run of Rapid Metro Rail in Gurgaon on Tuesday.

Rapid Metro Rail will be completely operational by March 2013, said Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services Ltd (IL&FS), the company that built this system in Gurgaon. The firm also laid the foundation for the Rs 2,100 crore project under its second phase for expansion of the Rapid Metro Rail by a further 6.5 km towards southern parts of the city. It is likely to be completed in three years.

The Haryana government will give land for the proposed extension and to set up the depot. The new route will be between DLF Phase 3 and Gurgaon Sector 56.

“The government is committed towards giving equal contribution to Metro projects in Gurgaon and Faridabad,” said Krishna. “There is also a need to ensure integrated mobility of Gurgaon with the help of buses and feeder buses, which will help people commute within city premises and even to the Metro. The government is willing to share 50 per cent of the cost for this system,” he added.

Chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said this is a first positive example of a public-private partnership model of the Rapid Metro.

“This is the first model where the government will not reap any profit. The multi-model transport plan for Gurgaon is in progress,” he said.MP Rao Inderjit Singh said the government should extend this mode of transport to Old Gurgaon.

“People in Gurgaon have all the latest technologies, but they have no transport to reach any other part of the city. The government had kept aside some money to invest in the Rapid Metro, so now they should use this money to extend this to other parts and neighbouring areas,” said Singh.

IL&FS said the finance of the Rapid Metro project has been borne by the company. “This metro will provide an efficient transport system for nearly two lakh people who travel in and out of Gurgaon. This will also help reduce nearly 60,000 cars seen on Gurgaon roads,” said Sanjeev Rai, managing director and CEO of IL&FS.

The Rapid Metro, with six stations across the network, will have a common ticketing system with Delhi Metro, and trains will run from 5.30 am till midnight with a frequency of four to five minutes.