Chhattisgarh to launch state's first Light Metro Rail Project in Raipur

Raipur, India (Urban Transport News): The central government has agreed to the proposal of running a light metro train in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. A project report will soon be prepared for this. This is the third time after the formation of the state when people here are being shown the dream of such a modern public transport service. Earlier, it was also proposed to run metro and monorail, but the plan remained on paper.

According to officials, the cost of such modern transport services is high. Because of this, it cannot be started without the help of the central government. The central government now agrees on the proposal for a light metro train in Raipur. Due to this, the expectation of its arrival on the ground has increased. According to officials, a Mumbai-based company had proposed to run light metro rail in the state in 2019.

The company also gave a presentation in the ministry in the presence of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. Officials had said that the light rail system will be based on Russian technology that will be battery-powered. There are eight bogies on this train, which runs on an elevated route. 1,068 people can travel on the train of eight bogies.

According to officials, the proposed light rail will be fully air-conditioned with all modern facilities including WiFi. There will be solar panels on the side of the rail line, in which street lights can also be installed. Officials of the Urban Administration Department said that the Mumbai-based company, which gave the presentation two years ago, had proposed to bear the entire cost of the project. The company will hand over the light rail project to the government after 30 years of operation.

Earlier in 2008, Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) in its election manifesto promised to run a metro train from Raipur to Rajnandgaon. The promise was implemented in 2012, four years after the announcement. Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) had carried out the survey but the cost of the project was very high. The central government also refused help, considering the project as a deficit deal. Because of this, the whole matter went into the garbage.