State govt gives push to Ludhiana Metro project
The Punjab government has decided that the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) will be its official consultant for turning into reality the Ludhiana rapid transit transportation (metro rail) project.
The Punjab government has decided that the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) will be its official consultant for turning into reality the Ludhiana rapid transit transportation (metro rail) project.

The state local bodies department has initiated a series of steps to give a fillip to the project and also decided to approach the DMRC for a detailed feasibility study for Amritsar to set up the metro rail project, government sources said.
The state government has decided to appoint the Ludhiana municipal commissioner as the managing director to lead and manage the project till the bidding process is completed.
A special purpose vehicle, the Ludhiana Metro Rail Corporation, will be established to coordinate the requisite process/measures to pursue the project. The government has set August 22 as the deadline to complete the Ludhiana metro route verification at the ground level.
Government sources said top functionaries of the union ministry of urban development had held a meeting with Punjab government officers on July 23 and sought a feasibility report of the project. The union ministry had also asked the state to take such measures that bidding for the project starts by October.
The Punjab council of ministers had approved the DMRC project report at the June 22 meeting. Now, the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB) is getting the feasibility report prepared through the DMRC, keeping in mind the ground realities of Ludhiana city.
Under this project, corridor-1 will have areas such as Aayali Chowk, BBMB power house and Samrala Chowk, while corridor-2 will pass through Gill village and Rahon road. These areas will be "frozen" for all future construction.
The government has also directed the town and country planning wing to ensure that urban transport zones of Ludhiana are fully defined and incorporated in the master plan, while it will be the duty of the Ludhiana MC to ensure that the metro project is fully reflected in the city development plan.
Besides, the areas around the metro rail corridor will be declared planning areas to check unauthorised construction.
A high-powered committee headed by the chief secretary will be set up to steer the project and resolve all inter-departmental issues.
As the union ministry of urban development, vide its April 16 letter, has suggested innovative financing options for the project, the government is likely to set up a group of four officers - principal secretary-rank officers from the departments of local bodies, finance, housing and urban development and the PIDB managing director - to suggest options to the committee about financing arrangement for this project, government sources said.