हिंदी
Jaipur, September 23. Chief Minister Shri Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday e-dedicated the State’s first underground Metro train to the public through video conference and virtually flagged off the Metro. This Metro train will run in the walled city of Jaipur under Metro Phase 1-B covering the distance of 2.12 km from Chandpole to Badi Chaupar.
Shri Gehlot while addressing the programme said that the running of Metro trains from Chandpole to Badi Chaupar will ease the travel of tourists in the walled city and will reduce the pressure on traffic.
The Chief Minister said that then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on September 21, 2013 had laid the foundation of Metro Phase 1-B and at that time it was expected that this phase will get completed in two and a half years, but the pace slowed down with the change in government and now it has completed in March, 2020.
Did Not See Loss or Profit in Running Metro
The Chief Minister said that “Our Government is not seeing loss or profit in running the Metro because it is the social responsibility of the Governments to provide cheap and easy transport service to people.”
Explore the Possibilities of Metro Light Project
The Chief Minister thanked Union Urban Development Ministry for the cooperation in completing the Metro Phase 1-B. He requested to explore the possibilities of starting a low cost Metro Lite Project in the State. Besides this, he demanded to connect cities such as Jodhpur and Bikaner with Smart City Project so that urban development works could take place in these cities also.
Boosted Morale of Train Operator Shefali
Shri Gehlot congratulated Jaipur Metro Rail Corporation and DMRC for completing this underground Metro line by maintaining the heritage look of the walled city of Jaipur. He also congratulated the officers and engineers who had contributed to this project. He spoke to Ms Shefali, the operator of the State’s first underground Metro train and boosted her morale.
People Will Get Cheap and Comfortable Travel
Urban Development Minister Shri Shanti Dhariwal said no Tier-2 city was having Metro trains when the Metro started in Jaipur. It could be possible because of the willpower of Chief Minister Shri Ashok Gehlot at the time of the previous Government. He hoped that safe, pollution free, cheap and comfortable travel will be accessible to people along with tourists coming to Jaipur with the starting of underground metro. This will also ease traffic jams to a great extent in the walled city.
Chief Whip Dr. Mahesh Joshi and Kishanpole MLA Shri Amin Kagji also addressed the programme from Badi Chaupar Metro Station.
Underground Line was Laid While Preserving Heritage
Jaipur Metro Chairman and Managing Director Shri Bhaskar A. Sanwant said that this world-level project was completed without making any kind of change in the heritage. He said that now the travel of 12km from Mansarovar to Badi Chaupar will complete in 26 minutes. An Art Gallery has been built at the Choti Chaupar Metro Station to conserve the important artefacts. Ultramodern tunnel ventilator system has been installed in this underground line. Entry Gates have been made from all the Khandas at Badi Chaupar and Choti Chaupar Stations. Both stations have been given a grand and attractive look as per the architecture of Rajasthan. Total 18 escalators and six lifts have been installed for the facility of passengers at both stations. The total cost of the project was Rs. 1126 crore.
Union Urban Development Ministry’s Secretary Shri Durgashankar Mishra who joined the programme through video conference said that the Central Government along with development of urban transport, is focussing on affordable and low-cost metro projects Tier-2 cities will also get benefitted. Delhi Metro Corporation Limited MD Shri Mangu Singh hoped that the landscape of Jaipur city will change with the starting of Metro Phase 1-B and tourists coming here will get good transport facilities. Jaipur Metro Director (Operation) Shri Mukesh Kumar said that all arrangements have been made for people to travel maintaining the social distance.
Transport Minister Shri Pratap Singh Kachariyawas, Chief Secretary Shri Rajeeva Swarup, Jaipur Metro Director (Finance) Shri Harish Laddha were present in the programme along with JMRC officers-employees were present at Badi Chaupar Metro Station and Mansarovar Metro Depot.
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