RITES Submits Preliminary DPR for Kanpur Metro

Earlier this month, the Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES) submitted a preliminary Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Kanpur Metro project to the Kanpur Development Authority (KDA). RITES had also done the soil testing analysis at 50 points and prepared the techno-feasibility report.

The KDA is currently consulting with other stakeholders of the project such as the Jal Nigam, Kanpur Nagrik Manch and Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation to reach a consensus on the DPR and select the priority route that will first be developed. After gathering suggestions, RITES will then prepare a final report.

The preliminary DPR recommends two routes to be developed:

Line 1 –  IIT Kanpur to Naubasta – 25 kms
Line 2 – Chandra Shekher Azad University to Jaurali – 10 kms

I’ve drawn both these routes on the map below:

Routes proposed for Kanpur’s metro project

Line 1 is pegged to cost Rs 9,500 crores and a portion of it will be built underground in the core of the city.  The proposed route would begin from IIT and would pass through Kalyanpur, Rawatpur, Mall Road, Phoolbagh, Kanpur Central Station, Jhakarkati Bus Terminal, Transport Nagar, Bara Devi, Kidwai Nagar to reach Naubasta. This line will have 28 trains each consisting of 4 coaches.

Line 2 will run from Chandra Shekher Azad University and pass through the vicinity of GSVM Medical College, Fazalganj, Vijay Nagar, Govind Nagar, Barra to reach Jaurali. This line will have 9 trains each consisting of 4 coaches.

As I stated above, the KDA is currently examining the DPR and discussing it with other stakeholders. In KDA’s recent meeting with the Kanpur Nagrik Manch (KNM), the KNM objected to the information about the project footfall/Peak Hour (PH) boarding at various stations. As per the DPR, the maximum PH of 11,300 would be recorded at Rawatpur followed by Vasant Vihar. The Kanpur Central station and Bada Chauraha – both in the core of the city are projected at just 4,800 & 2,100 respectively which seems too small a number.

The KDA will take everyone’s suggestions into account and then ask RITES to prepare the final DPR. Once that is done, it will be sent to the state government for their approval.

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– TMRG