PM Modi to virtually inaugurate construction of Rs 8,000 crore Agra Metro project on December 7

PM Modi to virtually inaugurate construction of Rs 8,000 crore Agra Metro project on December 7

The nearly 30 km-long Agra Metro project will connect major tourist attractions like Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Sikandra with railway stations and bus stands.

Dated : 06 Dec 2020 (IST)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually inaugurate the construction of the Agra Metro project at 11.30 am on December 7. Comprising two corridors, the Agra Metro project will connect major tourist attractions like Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Sikandra with railway stations and bus stands.

The Prime Minister will be joined by Union Minister of Housing & Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri, and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath among others An event will be held to mark the inauguration at 15 Battalion PAC parade ground in Agra on Monday.

According to reports, the Agra Metro Project will cover an area of 29.4 km upon completion.

Managing Director of UP Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC) Kumar Keshav said on Saturday that the Agra Metro will be a boon to tourism and the first train will run on priority section from Taj Mahal to Jama Masjid.

Earlier, a senior railway official had told India Today that six stations will be built in the first phase of the Agra Metro project. This will include three elevated and three underground stations. An elevated ramp will also be erected at Purani Mandi near the Taj Mahal for this purpose.

The Uttar Pradesh government had clarified last month that over 95 per cent of land being used for this project is public property. However, about 89 hectares of land owned by private enterprises, railways, and defense will also be acquired at an estimated cost of Rs 420 crore for this purpose.

Reports put the total cost of the Agra Metro project at Rs 8,379.62 crore. Operations on this metro line are expected to commence by December 2022.