The allocation for Metro projects has increased by over 12 per cent from Rs 5,166 crore to Rs 5,798.57 crore, in line with finance minister Pranab Mukherjee’s push for infrastructure projects through the Budget.
The Delhi Metro continues to have a lion’s share with Rs 2,116.69 crore, followed by Bangalore Metro with Rs 1,670 crore. The Plan Expenditure allocated for Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has been scaled up by 41 per cent. For Chennai Metro Rail Limited, the Plan Expenditure has been scaled down by Rs 200 crore.
For Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation Limited, the allocation is Rs 265 crore.
Mumbai, Jaipur and Kochi metros will also get a boost with allocation of around Rs 30 crore.
Delhi Metro Rail Corporation is expected to utilise the funds to add around 104 km to the network in the National Capital Region in phase-III. The construction has already begun with work progressing along the 3-km Central Secretariat to Janpath stretch.
Out of the plan outlay of Rs 4,511.89 crore allotted to the Ministry of Urban Development for the DMRC Phase-III, the budgetary allocation includes Rs 1,112.57 in equity and Rs 1,004.12 as loan.
Besides, a pass-through assistance of Rs 749.12 crore via Japan International Cooperation Agency lending has also been included.
Among the Metro projects, DMRC will be the only one that will raise internal and extra budgetary resource (IEBR) of Rs 2,395.20 crore. The DMRC would get around 50 per cent funding from budgetary support and the rest through IEBR. The grants for the DMRC by the government would be Rs 100 crore and the DMRC will not have to return anything.
Mukherjee announced a Rs 100-crore grant for construction of the Faridabad line that will connect the Capital to the neighboring satellite city in Haryana. Also, Rs 255 crore has been earmarked for water supply and sanitation in Delhi Metro.
