Agra Metro: Environmentalists raises objections on metro rail project

Agra (Urban Transport News): Before commencement of effect of code of conduct for general assembly elections, the centre had approved metro rail project worth Rs 8,779 crores for the Agra city.  Dr. Sharad Gupta, who is a leading environmentalist has raised objections over the initiation of the proposed metro rail project in the city without seeking prior approval from the departments concerned including the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ).

To bring the attention of the Government, Dr. Gupta has written a letter to UP Chief Secretary Anoop Chandra Pandey and said that even as the final Detailed Project Report (DPR) of Agra Metro was submitted in May 2016, no permission was taken from the departments/authorities concerned till date.

Expressing his concern at the latest developments Dr. Gupta said that many projects such as civil airport and multi-level parking at the Taj Mahal’s East Gate were put on hold due to the absence of the mandatory approvals from the concerned department/authorities.

According to Dr. Gupta, Agra city comes under Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ), no project can be initiated without the approval of its committee, but there is no mention of TTZ approval in the DPR prepared by Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation (LMRC). He further said that even the metro rail project was not mentioned in the vision document being prepared by the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA) New Delhi for the protection of the historical monument.

“According to the final DPR, about 2,729 trees are likely to be felled, and of these, about 1,226 are at the PAC land depot and 154 at Kalindi Vihar depot. Though there is a provision of planting 10 saplings for each tree cut, these norms are usually not followed”, Dr. Gupta said raising his concern over the loss of trees due to the construction of Metro Rail project in the City.

“Though the aim of this project is to decongest the city’s heavy traffic as well as control the pollution level, it should not affect the heritage culture of the town. The proposed metro rail project will affect residential and commercial structures at some of the portions of its alignment”, he said as reported by the TOI.