Ahmedabad:
Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel today performed the groundbreaking ceremony of the first phase of Ahmedabad Metro Rail Project at Vastral here.
Patel, who performed the ceremony amid unseasonal showers, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi expedited this ambitious project.
“After Narendrabhai became the Prime Minister, he expedited this project. We are thankful to him. Metro will provide another public transport option along with the BRTS,” Patel said.
The work of Vastral-Thaltej route will end likely by September 2016, she said.
Asked about protest against the land-acquisition for the project, Patel said government would give hearing to aggrieved persons and will find a solution.
On a question about the currrent spell of unseasonal rains, she said the decision regarding compensation to farmers will be taken after conducting a survey of damage.
The NDA government last October approved a grant of Rs 10,773 crore for phase-1 of the metro. This phase, covering 37.76 km, has two corridors: East-West from Vastral to Thaltej and North-South from APMC to Motera.
In the first year, Gujarat government would fund Rs 2,000 crore while the Central government will give another Rs 2,000 crore.
Metro Link Express for Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad (MEGA) Company is the implementing agency.
Incidentally, despite the swine flu infection threat, nobody at the function was seen wearing a mask or using hand sanitisers.
Ahmedabad district collector has issued a notification saying that organisers of any public event should provide masks and sanitisers to avoid spread of swine flu. There have been 382 deaths in the state due to swine flu this year so far.
