Assam Cabinet approved Metro Rail for Guwahati

The Assam Cabinet on 23 February 2016 approved the detailed project report (DPR) for a Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) for Guwahati. The cabinet also gave green signal to setting up of the Guwahati Metro Rail Corporation Limited (GMRCL).

State Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi will lay the foundation stone for the Metro project in Khanapara area on 29 February 2016.

Key highlights of Guwahati Metro project

• The 203 kilometres Metro corridor will be completed in three phases.

• Phase I will cover a length 61.4 kilometres, and will have four corridors: Dharapur-Narangi (elevated), M.G. Road to Khanapara (underground), Jalukbari to Khanapara (elevated) and ISBT to Paltanbazar (elevated).

• There will be 54 stations in the first phase.

• The trains will have a carrying capacity of up to 975 passengers each.

• The estimated projected cost including land is 18020 crore rupees.

• The Assam Government and the Union Government will share 20 per cent each of the total cost. Local bodies will contribute 350 crore rupees, while the remaining 10074 crore rupees will be funded through soft loans from funding agencies with guarantees from the Union Government.

• GMRCL will be a wholly-owned company of the Assam Government and will look after the operation and maintenance of the project.

• The company will be later converted into joint ownership (50:50) of the State and Union Governments.

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