Dehradun metro set to roll

The Uttaranchal government has evinced keen interest in starting a metro rail line between Saharanpur and Dehradun. Other possibilities of starting metro projects in different parts of the hill state are also being explored, official sources said here today.

An indication to this effect came during a meeting Chief Minister N D Tiwari had with Delhi Metro Railway Corporation Ltd Chairman E Shreedharan in Dehradun during the weekend, the sources said. The viability of having a metro link between Dehradun and New Delhi was also discussed.

Shreedharan told the chief minister that the Dehradun-Saharanpur metro link would improve the economic prospects of the hill state where the connectivity was still at a low ebb.

When contacted, top officials said a survey would be conducted between Dehradun and Saharanpur on setting up the metro line. Besides giving boost to tourism in the state, the new metro project would also reduce distance between New Delhi and Dehradun.

A team of top government officials will soon go to New Delhi to hold further talks in this regard.

Meanwhile, trade and business chambers have welcomed the government's initiative on starting a metro link, stating that such a project would improve the overall economic condition of the state.

"This project is the need of the hour in Uttaranchal. We want that the government must show its sincerity in this regard," said Indian Industries Association (IIA) President Pankaj Gupta.

Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) State Council Chairman Hemunt Arora also welcomed the move and said such project was being desired by the CII for a long time.