No changes needed in Metro report: DMRC

A study of traffic flow was conducted and site visit was carried out to study the geology before deciding on the corridors for the Metro,he said.

The DMRC had also carried out the environment impact study as mentioned in the DPR. “A report will soon be submitted to the PMC with all the details on possible impact of the Metro project on environment,” said Sharma. Sharma said the Metro in the city can be economically feasible even without allowing a floor space index (FSI) of four for structures alongside the Metro route. The design of elevated route and partly underground route for has been proposed in a way that the project cost is kept to the minimum,he said.

The cost estimate for the elevated route is Rs 160 crore per km while that for the underground section is Rs 450 crore per km,he said. The elevated option was the most cost effective one,he added. “It’s a wrong notion that many properties will be affected in the elevated sector. There will not be much land acquisition for the project and only a few structures will be acquired for the project,” Sharma said.

Municipal commissioner Mahesh Zagade said the civic body will submit the report to the state government which will be scrutinised by experts before being sent to the Union government for approval.

Mayor Mohansingh Rajpal said the civic body has taken note of all the concerns raised by NGOs and citizens so that they will be sorted out before actual implementation of the project. Former senior railway officer V K J Rane said the Metro should be on broad gauge for increasing the carrying capacity of commuters. However,this argument was countered by the DMRC officials who said the best option for Indian conditions was standard gauge.