35,000 mn for RRTS, no funds marked for Delhi Metro

The first high-speed Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) route in the nation, which is being built between Delhi and Meerut, received a significant 35,960 million boost in the Union Budget. The amount, however, was less than the 44,720 million from the previous year. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, which is building three priority lines as part of its Phase IV expansion, did not receive a specific allocation. For all national metro rail projects, 195,180 million dollars were allotted in the budget. According to a source, for the past few years, the Union finance ministry has been providing a budget for all metro train projects in India in entirety instead of to each individual venture. Grants to the DMRC were previously made independently. The source further stated that DMRC would request funding in accordance with the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry's regulations, which serves as the nodal agency for all metro projects. The allocation for metro projects consists of 13,240 million in subordinate loan, 44,710 million in equity investment, and 137,230 million in pass-through aid. Rapid station construction is taking place on the RRTS, notably on the priority segment. 1,100 engineers and over 14,000 people are employed full-time. Currently, 35% of the underground segment is complete, and 65% of the elevated viaducts have been built said a representative of the executing agency, the National Capital Region Transport Corporation. Anand Vihar, Sarai Kale Khan, New Ashok Nagar, and Jangpura are the four stations in Delhi along the 82-km Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor. Train testing is being done in preparation for operations on the priority section to begin this year. The forthcoming operation of this segment will provide new regional rail services in the NCR and offer passengers a cutting-edge, conditioned, quick, and dependable transportation service. By 2025, the entire route will be made public.