The Noida Sector-62 Blue Line network to Sahibabad metro train extensions are the subject of a project report update request from the Ghaziabad Development Authority to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation. To give connectivity to the future Regional Rapid Transit System project, the GDA is giving the Sector 62 to Sahibabad line priority.

However, the project has run into finance and scheduling problems, which has prompted the GDA to look at alternate commuting choices. The idea has been supported by the locals for more than three years, and they anticipate action before the next election.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has just been requested by the Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA), which has been exploring metro train extensions for the past three years, to update a detailed project report (DPR) filed in January 2020, according to officials with knowledge of the situation. The report sought to link Sahibabad in Ghaziabad to Noida’s Sector-62 Blue Line network.

On Monday, representatives of the DMRC met with representatives of the GDA, who urged them to update the DPR. A project report was provided to the GDA by DMRC in January 2020, with budget estimates of 1,517 crore for the Sector-62 to Sahibabad line and 1,808.22 crore for the Vaishali to Mohan Nagar route.

Since 2019, the authorities had been considering adding metro expansions.

The Sector 62 to Sahibabad metro route project study has to be revised, according to the GDA. They have one month to submit the revised DPR. The Sector 62 to Sahibabad line has been given top priority by the GDA because of the impending Regional Rapid Transit System project. Metro riders at Sahibabad would have access to the Sahibabad RRTS station for interchange, according to Manvendra Singh, the GDA’s chief engineer.

Currently, Ghaziabad has two metro connections: the Red Line connects Dilshad Garden to New Bus Adda and the Blue Line connects Anand Vihar to Vaishali.

GDA representatives claim that commuters taking the RapidX trains, a component of the RRTS project, from New Bus Adda to Anand Vihar will do so. They stated that those traveling to Noida will also board the RapidX train at New Bus Adda and change to the metro at Sahibabad.

The GDA is reevaluating the Sector 62 to Sahibabad link because to worries that connecting Mohan Nagar to Vaishali via metro may have an impact on RRTS ridership. In addition, the GDA is battling with unresolved budget problems.

The state rejected the GDA’s request for funds in January. State representatives turned down the authority’s request for 50% state funding for the two envisaged metro extensions later in May.

Due to these difficulties, the GDA investigated a number of commuting options, including ropeway links, Metrolite (a light rail urban transport system for cities with smaller ridership), and Metro Neo (a cheap mass rapid transit system for tier 2 and tier 3 cities). The GDA also contemplated a potential 5.83 km link from Sector 62 to Vaishali in June, but finally dropped the concept.

“Funding issues still exist, and we may look into securing loans from outside sources to launch the project,” Singh continued.

Residents of the trans-Hindon area have been working with district, state, and federal officials for more than three years to promote this proposal.

“In this regard, we have conducted numerous meetings and written letters. We also suggested that the federal government and the state government think about raising their contributions to the Ghaziabad metro projects. Residents of Noida and Ghaziabad will have access to commuting via the Sector-62 to Sahibabad route. Additionally, it will increase the number of RapidX train passengers. However, the project has encountered considerable delays, and if nothing tangible is done, people will react in the upcoming election. According to UB Garg, head of Varishth Nagrik Samaj, Vasundhara, an association of locals and older citizens, common reason must prevail and agencies should speed the project right away.

Source- Hindustan times
Link- https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/noida-news/gdaseeks-dmrc-update-on-metro-extension-project-101695840030350.html