ADB and JICA starts evaluating loan proposals for Delhi

This year witnessed the beginning of loan proposal reviews by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for the 106.5 km Delhi - SNB (Shahjahanpur - Neemrana - Behrod) Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) line. The $457 million World Bank plan is in addition to these loans. In 2020, their name first appeared as a project financier on the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) procurement form. ADB: $1.3 Billion Loan The Asian Development Bank's panel authorised a concept proposal to lend the project USD 1,382 million on October 11, according to the bank's updates. The 82.15 km Delhi-Meerut RRTS line is funded by ADB thanks to a $1.049 billion loan that its board of directors approved in August 2020. A second semi-high-speed rail line in Delhi-NCRs would be built and its system purchased using their planned loan amount of around 114160 million. Like the Meerut line, the line to SNB will have an operational speed of 160 km/h and a design speed of 180 km/h. It will eventually be extended 58 km to the south to Alwar and 35 km to Sotanala. $890 million Loan from JICA Since at least 2019, there has also been communication between the NCRTC and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The project information sheet from the World Bank states that JICA values a loan for it at USD 890 million. This line would have stations in Gurugram Sector 17, Rajiv Chowk, INA, Sarai Kale Khan, Munirka, Aerocity, Udyog Vihar, Kherki Daula, Manesar, Panchgaon, Bilaspur, Dharuhera, MBIR, Rewari, Bawal, and Shahjahanpur - Neemrana - Behrod (SNB). ADB claims that between March 13 and March 23, 2023, its team will conduct a fact-finding mission. Following that, they will convene a management review meeting (MRM), after which they will ask the board for approval. That final board decision needs to be approved by the Central Government, which is expected to come right before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The General Consultant (GC) contract for the line was awarded to SYSTRA - Egis Rail - Consulting Engineers Group JV in July. After the project is approved, it is envisaged that a contract would be signed with the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) to aid in its quick implementation.