Ggn Rapid Metro expansion misses deadline again

The Haryana government may be pondering over the plan to introduce the first-ever caterpillar train project in Gurugram. However, before the C-train, there was already a Rapid Metro system created to solve the transportation problems of the city.

Four years in operation, there are various challenges that still abound the Rapid Metro project, considered to be among the few projects in the country that involves the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. Even as the first phase that runs from Sikanderpur to Cyber City covering a total distance of five kilometre has been functioning since late 2013, the delay of the second phase of the project seems to have stalled the prospects of further expansion of the Rapid Metro Project in the city. 

The second phase which was announced in 2013 itself after the completion of the first phase was to run from Sikanderpur towards Sector 56 covering three more stations that included DLF Phase-1, Sector 53 and Sector 54.

Though the completion of the second phase was to be done within two years, that is in the year 2015 itself, the second phase missed several deadlines, the latest being in December.

According to sources, the second phase of the Rapid Metro will begin to function in the month of February 2017.

The officials of the private firm that is responsible for the functioning of the Rapid Metro project mentioned that majority of the construction in the second phase has been done.

Besides this, the train coaches have also come and are being used for trials.

Obtaining necessary clearances, challenges in getting the right design framework and the revamping of Golf Course Road where most of the construction activity of the second phase has caused the delay according to officials.

After the second phase starts functioning, the decision of fares will also be a major challenge for the management of Rapid Metro. In 2014, owing to low ridership, the management of the Rapid Metro were forced to increase the fares of the ride.