Investment board approves Ghaziabad metro, centre nod soon

The Public Investment Board (PIB) on Wednesday gave its in-principle approval for the Dilshad Garden-New Bus Adda metro project. Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) vice-chairperson KanchanVerma said the approval came after PIB expressed satisfaction over the project presentation made by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) officials at a meeting. “The PIB was satisfied with the presentation made by DMRC for its Dilshad Garden-New Bus Adda metro project. There were few queries from the board about the project which the DMRC answered to the satisfaction of the board,” Verma told TOI. “So, we could safely assume that the board has given in-principle approval for the project, the details of which will be shared once we get the minutes of the meeting,” she added. The PIB approval will be followed by a nod from the Union cabinet, which is expected by the end of this month, officials said. The Centre’s go-ahead will facilitate the release of its share of an estimated Rs 239 crore, they said. The cost of the metro project has varied since 2014 when it was conceived. It was Rs 1,770 crore in 2014 after which DMRC came up with a revised detailed project report pegging the cost at Rs 2,210 crore. But three months ago, it cut down the completion cost to Rs 1,805 crore, which has again come down to Rs 1,780 crore. In a related development, the Union urban development ministry has proposed the formation of Metro Transport Authority in an attempt to provide last-mile connectivity from metro stations. As of now, the DMRC barring in Delhi, do not offer feeder bus services in NCR.