Work on Nagpur metro rail to start in April: MD

Brajesh Dixit, mananging director of NMRCL, has expressed confidence that work on Metro rail would start in April. Dixit told TOI that work on marking the alignment and mapping of water pipelines, sewer lines, telephone cables, etc had already started. 'We have also held talks with NMC, BSNL and other agencies for mapping their infrastructure,' he added.

Some major developments are expected this week. 'The Nagpur Metro Rail Corporation Limited (NMRCL) will be registered in a week with head office in Nagpur. More than 50% land required for the railway will be in our possession by end of next week,' Dixit said.

The MD further said that once the company was registered some legal formalities will be completed. 'Then central funds will start flowing. Our request for a loan from a French agency AFD is at an advance stage of being considered. It is expected to provide us Rs. 1,500 crore. NIT has already allocated some money in their budget,' he said.

The board will induct officers, staffers and consultants after all legal formalities related to NMRCL are completed. 'We will appoint the first consultant immediately for designs. It will work for first five to six months. The second one will be employed for entire duration of the project,' he said.

The loan component of the metro railway is about Rs 4,500 crore. AFD has agreed to provide Rs 1,500 crore. Talks are going on with union finance ministry for getting the remaining Rs 3,000 crore from other financers. 'We will not require the remaining loan immediately. The money will become available in due course,' said Dixit.

The MD is presently operating from a Ravi Bhavan cottage. The state government has provided him a residential bungalow, which will function as the NMRCL office.


TIMES OF INDIA