RITES submits report on Guwahati metro project

The Guwahati Metro Rail Project has gained momentum. The Rail India Technical & Economic Service (RITES) has submitted its final CMP&AA (Comprehensive Mobility Plan & Alternative Analysis) report on the mega project. Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) has sent the report to the Guwahati Development Department. RITES had prepared the feasibility report and the DPR for a rail-based MRTS for Guwahati in 2016 and the then State government issued the gazette notification for implementation of the rail-based MRTS for the metropolitan city. But the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Development introduced a new metro rail policy, bringing a change in the Guwahati Metro Rail Project. That led the GMDA to ask RITES to carry out another study and file a comprehensive report and the type of metro rail needed for Guwahati. This enabled PWD, Railways, NHAI, Water Resources, GDD among others to extend their suggestions. The comprehensive final report submitted by RITES incorporated all the suggestions. A stretch of 61.4 km of the 200-km metro rail project had four corridors –Dharapur-Jalukbari-Narengi (22.6 km), Jalukbari-Khanapara (19.4 km), GS Road (10 km underground) and ISBT-Paltan Bazar (9.4 km). The cost per km of the corridors has been estimated to be ₹350 crore, which is likely to escalate further. As per the new policy of Union Ministry and suggestions from RITES, the metro rail project for Guwahati will now be 'metrolite rail' with less capacity and much lesser cost.