Centre plans standard specifications for tier 2 & 3 cities

The Central government is planning to approve national standard specifications for Metro-Neo project – a no-frills, low-cost urban rail transit system – for tier 2 and tier 3 cities. Dr Brijesh Dixit, MD, Maharashtra Metro informed that Metro-Neo is a mass rapid transit system providing low-cost, energy-efficient and eco-friendly urban transport solution to cities. Drawing traction power from overhead wires Metro Neo will not run on track but on road. Maharashtra has given a green signal for this state-of-the-art Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) for Nashik. The project requires an investment of ₹2,100.6 crore and it is being developed by the Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation (Maha Metro). Metro-Neo system is a unique concept and it is being adopted for the first time in this country, being ― comfortable, rapid, energy-efficient and less noisy compared to diesel buses plying on roads and environment friendly. The length of electric bus coaches will be 25/18 meter with carrying capacity 200 to 300 passengers. They will run on rubber tyres, not tracks and the buses will be air-conditioned with automatic door closing system, level boarding, and passengers' announcement system along with passenger information system with an electronic display.