The sources told that the metro route had to be inaugurated with the inauguration of the airport on August 14 last, but due to lack of funds, it was assumed that the metro project may take time but considering the importance of the route with the inauguration of airport, the government transferred the funds to the metro project.
The width of the double-track metro route will be nine meters. Though the number of buses have not been finalised, around 25,000 people will be working at the new airport and a majority of them will use the metro service. The route would comprise four interchanges at Golra Mor, N-5 Interchange, M-1/M-2 Interchange and Top City Interchange. There will be 14 bus stops, 11 underpasses and 12 bridges on the route.
The metro route project had been awarded to three companies - NLC, FWO and Metracon. However, a senior CDA official told Business Recorder that CDA is already facing shortage of funds for its project of 24 kilometers signal free corridor on Expressway. The signal free corridor project has been delayed due to a number of reasons including the financial constraints, whereas the work is now in progress on Sohan and Khanna Pul interchanges. The third phase will be started in a few months, he said. The CDA management had to execute the project in three phases due to the financial constrain, he added.
The CDA needs almost Rs 2 billion for the second phase of signal free corridor project while it would require almost Rs 10 billion for its third phase. "Around Rs 10 billion to Rs 12 billion would be required for the third phase and we have planned two auctions of commercial and residential plots to meet the fiscal requirements," he added. He said some housing societies situated along the signal free route want to fund some of the interchanges from Koral to GT Road which will decrease the cost of the project for the civic body.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2017