Construction work on the much-awaited Gurugram Metro is set to commence on September 5 with a groundbreaking ceremony in Sector 44, opposite the GMDA office. Union housing and urban affairs minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Haryana chief minister Naib Singh Saini will jointly perform the Bhoomi Pujan.

The first phase of the project includes building a 15.22 km elevated viaduct, 15 stations, a 1.85 km spur to the Dwarka Expressway, and a ramp to the proposed depot in Sector 33. The contract, valued at Rs 12.77 billion plus GST, has been awarded to a joint venture.

Preparations for the ceremony were reviewed by Gurugram deputy commissioner Ajay Kumar, who said a public meeting will also be held at Gurugram University to connect residents with the project.

Chander Shekhar Khare, managing director of Gurugram Metro Rail Limited (GMRL), said, “The bhoomi poojan will mark a historic day for the city. We plan to build the metro at a fast pace. The contractor has been asked to mobilise the site by the middle of this month. We have also taken up geo-technical survey of the second phase so that tender for the second phase can also be finalised at the earliest.”

Officials confirmed that a piling rig machine for drilling metro pillar foundations has already reached Sector 44, where work will begin from the terminating point of Delhi Metro’s Yellow Line.

News source: Hindustan Times