The detailed project report on Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP) phase-I, submitted by Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES) in December 2019, for a rapid transit system in Varanasi will be reviewed in the first week of September.
In its report, RITES has proposed a light Metro corridor between BHEL (Tarna) and BHU (Lanka) after the proposal for Metro sanctioned in 2015 was not found feasible for the old city area and was discarded in June 2019.
Divisional commissioner Deepak Agrawal said “In last two months, RITES had made presentations on its DPR before chief minister Yogi Adityanath through video conferencing also attended by principal secretary (housing) Deepak Kumar, myself, district magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma, Varanasi Development Authority vice chairman Rahul Pandey and municipal commissioner Gauran Rathi.”
Since Metro rail was not found feasible and discarded, RITES was asked to suggest alternatives keeping the topography of the city in mind and has proposed light Metro on one stretch, he added.
“As mass rapid transit system projects entail heavy investment, the government wants to ensure it is feasible, effective and serves the needs of people while keeping in mind the ground realities of this congested city so that it doesn’t become a liability,” said Agarwal.
The next review is scheduled in the first week of September and will be attended by principal secretary (housing) Deepak Kumar, Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation managing director Kumar Keshav, officials of RITES and local authorities, he added.
Water and Power Consultancy Service Limited , a Mini Ratna PSU, has also been involved as consultant. After review and clearance, the DPR will be submitted to the Union government, said Agrawal.