Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Wednesday said it will lend US$ 176 million for the expansion of the Metro line in Jaipur.
“The ADB will lend US$ 176 million to extend the first Metro train line in Jaipur and draw up plans to build a second line, reducing congestion and pollution in the fast-growing Indian heritage city,” the bank said in a statement.
Under the Jaipur Development Authority’s public transport plan, the local government is constructing 9.7 km elevated Line 1 Metro train from Mansarovar, in the western part of the city, to Chandpole, on the western edge of the central business district.
This service is due to start operations in late 2013, it said.
“Building efficient mass transit transport will help reverse the rising use of private cars, making the city a cleaner and safer place to work and live,” Dong Kyu Lee, Principal Transport Specialist in ADB’s South Asia Department said in the statement.
ADB’s loan will help finance an additional 2.3 km underground stretch from Chandpole to Badi Chopar which is likely to provide access to the central business district by March, 2018.
This extension is likely to carry 1,26,000 passengers daily during its first year of operation, and generate about 61 per cent of all the trips on line 1.
“The construction of the line 1 extension — to cost a total US$ 259 million with the balance paid by the Rajasthan government — will be built to ensure that there is minimal risk from urban flash floods and other climate-related events,” ADB said.
ADB’s loan will also help finance studies into a planned 23km-long, north-south line 2 Metro line.