Nagpur Metro Phase II Construction Set to Commence After Regulatory Delays
Months after the groundbreaking ceremony performed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Phase II, the Nagpur Metro's ambitious 26,708 crore project is finally poised to kick off next week. Rajeev Tyagi, the director of the project at Maha Metro, announced that the construction work, focusing on the 7-kilometer viaduct along Kamptee Road, will commence in the coming days.
The Phase II of Nagpur Metro, initially announced in the Union Budget of 2022-23, saw progress only after Prime Minister Modi conducted the bhoomipujan in December 2022. Delays ensued until the tripartite agreement, involving Maha Metro, the Central government, and the state government, was approved and signed in October 2023.
The Kamptee Road viaduct tender was floated by Maha Metro, subsequently awarded to the Railway Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), a public sector undertaking. However, the issuance of the work order faced hindrance due to the pending tripartite agreement, vital for funds disbursement from international lenders like the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and European Investment Bank (EIB).
Three months after RVNL secured the tender, Maha Metro has now issued the work order, allowing the PSU to initiate the actual construction work. The tender, valued at 7395 crore, encompasses a viaduct starting from the Automotive Square Metro station and extending up to central Kamptee.
As per the tender conditions, RVNL is obligated to complete the project within 30 months. With the regulatory hurdles now cleared, the initiation of Phase II construction marks a significant step forward in enhancing Nagpur's metro infrastructure.
