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Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System Project

Country
India India
Status
Approved
Area Of Operation
Transport Infrastructure Transport Infrastructure
Type
Sovereign

Quick Facts

Financing Approval Date
29 September 2020
Current Limit of NDB Financing
USD 418 million
Borrower
The Republic of India
Project Implementing Entity
National Capital Region Transport Corporation Limited

 

More About This Project

The National Capital Region (NCR) is among the world’s largest urban agglomerations and a major economic center of India. Due to lack of efficient public transport options, the number of private vehicles in NCR has increased. The daily passenger traffic along the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor in NCR is estimated at 0.69 million, of which 63% utilize private vehicles for commuting. Due to traffic congestion, it can take about 3 to 4 hours to travel between Delhi and Meerut in Uttar Pradesh by road during peak hours. Rapid growth in vehicular traffic has made NCR one of the most polluted regions in the world. By 2030, NCR is projected to become the most populous urban agglomeration in the world, which will increase pressure on basic infrastructure such as housing, water supply, electricity and transport.

The Project comprises construction of a rapid rail corridor with a total length of 82.15 km, of which 68.03 km will be elevated and 14.12 km will be underground. The rail corridor will connect the National Capital Territory of Delhi with the cities of Ghaziabad and Meerut in Uttar Pradesh. About 21 km of the corridor from Meerut South to Modipuram Depot will also be used to operate local transit services within Meerut City. The Regional Rapid Transit System will have a design speed of 180 km per hour and a maximum operating speed of 160 km per hour, with high frequency operations. This transit system will reduce the travel time from Delhi to Meerut to about an hour.

The objective of the Project is to develop an efficient and sustainable regional transport system to reduce congestion in Delhi, by offering people the alternative of settling in surrounding cities and being able to commute to Delhi through a fast, reliable, safe and comfortable public transport system. The Project will promote social inclusion and development, particularly for vulnerable groups, by improving mobility and accessibility to education and job opportunities.

NDB has considered project implementation period until August 2027. Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs of Government of India will be the Executing Agency and National Capital Region Transport Corporation Limited will be the Implementing Agency.

The Project is Category “A” in line with NDB’s Environmental and Social Framework (ESF). E&S impacts during construction include land acquisition and resettlement, diversion of forest land, removal and transplantation of trees, community health and safety such as traffic disruption during construction, and noise and vibration impacts to communities along the alignment. E&S mitigation measures and resettlement framework have been developed in Project E&S studies in line with country systems and Asian Development Bank’s safeguard requirements, which materially comply with NDB’s ESF.

The total cost of the Project is estimated at USD 3,759 million. The Project will be financed through loans of USD 1,967 million from NDB, ADB and AIIB, grant of USD 3 million from Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction administered by ADB and counterpart funds of USD 1,789 million from government and other sources.

Source of Fund Amount (USD million)
NDB
418
Asian Development Bank
1,049
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
500
Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction
3
Government and other sources
1,789
NDB Borrower Project Entity
Indian Regional Office

Binitesh Kumar

Ministry of Finance of Government of India

Dr. P. V. Salian

National Capital Region Transport Corporation Limited

Rajiv Datt