The initial instalment of Rs 1.5 bn from the Delhi government has been disbursed for the construction of two proposed rapid rail transit system corridors. Out of this, Rs 1 billion is allocated for the Delhi-Shahjahanpur-Neemrana-Behror line, while the remaining funds will be utilised for the Delhi-Panipat corridor.
In response to criticism from the Supreme Court, the transport department had requested a provision of Rs 4.95 billion in the revised budget estimates for the RRTS project. Despite no demand from the department this year, the finance department did not allocate any funds in the 2023-24 budget estimates for the construction of the Delhi-Meerut corridor, as well as the proposed Delhi-Panipat and Delhi-SNB lines.
Earlier disbursements of Rs 5 billion in May and Rs 4.95 billion this month, funded by the environment compensation charge collected from goods vehicles entering the capital, were made for the Delhi-Meerut section. The National Capital Region Transport Corporation has specified that the Delhi government's total share for the two proposed corridors amounts to Rs 57.04 billion, to be paid in annual instalments until 2028-29.
For the financial year 2024-25, Delhi is obligated to pay Rs 8 billion for the Delhi-SNB corridor and Rs 1 billion for the Delhi-Panipat line. Additionally, Rs 10.50 billion, Rs 13 billion, Rs 13.04 billion, and Rs 10 billion are expected to be paid in the subsequent financial years from 2025-26 to 2028-29, respectively.
The comprehensive cost of the three rapid rail corridors is estimated to exceed Rs 910 billion, with contributions from the Centre and the states of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan. The Delhi government acknowledges the annual financial commitment for the RRTS lines and plans to allocate the necessary funds from the 2024-25 budget onwards.
