The plan to run Metro rail in Varanasi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Lok Sabha seat, moved a little closer to getting a concrete shape with Union urban development ministry taking up for discussion a survey report of the possible routes prepared by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). The meeting called by the ministry officials to discuss the report in Delhi on Friday also saw attendance of Varanasi Mayor Ram Gopal Mohle, Municipal Commissioner Umakant Tripathi, Varanasi North MLA Ravindra Jaiswal and Varanasi Cantonment MLA Jyotsana Srivastava. "The Ministry is exploring the possibilities of running Metro rail in Varanasi and DMRC has done a preliminary survey of the city so far in this regard,” Urban development ministry’s secretary Shankar Aggarwal, who held the meeting, told The Indian Express. He said the Detailed Project Report of the Metro project would be prepared after a meeting with the all the stakeholders including the state government which would be asked to share the cost burden. Sources said DMRC has suggested for 17-km route from Sarnath to Banaras Hindu University (BHU) —- six-km underground and 11 km elevated —- as a possible stretch for running the Metro. The DMRC is also exploring the possibility of running a major section of the Metro rail along River Ganga but that would require more technical studies. DMRC has estimated the project cost at Rs 3,500 crore, sources said. The Union Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD) , however, has collected suggestions from local public representatives for other possible routes. Jyotsana Srivastava, BJP MLA from Varanasi Cantonment, said she has suggested for a route from Cantonment Railway station to BHU via Lahartara. The MoUD had a few weeks back sent to the UP government an action agenda for rejuvenation of Varanasi. It had also asked the state government to prepare a comprehensive city mobility plan to encourage public transport system in the temple city. Varanasi’s surrounding areas including Sarnath, Babatpur, Mughal Sarai, Shivpur, Cholapur and Kashi are suggested to be developed as Satellite towns of Varanasi with proper transport connectivity to the temple city.
