Noida-Gzb Blue Line metro: In this extension, the metro line will be extended from Delhi-Meerut Expressway to Sahibabad in Ghaziabad via Indirapuram and Vaishali. This will reduce the distance between Ghaziabad and Noida and people will not face traffic problems.
GDA and UP Housing Board have decided to jointly invest money to build the metro line between Ghaziabad and Noida. Both will invest 50-50%. This decision has been taken to simplify the route between Delhi and Ghaziabad. In this extension, the metro line will be extended from Delhi-Meerut Expressway to Sahibabad in Ghaziabad via Indirapuram and Vaishali. This will reduce the distance between Ghaziabad and Noida and people will not face traffic problems.
There will be a station in Sahibabad
The expansion that is taking place here is necessary to boost communication between Metro and Rapid Rail. One of its stations is in Sahibabad. The second branch of the Blue Line, which runs from Dwarka to Vaishali, will be linked with the Rapid Rail, but this pairing will be at Anand Vihar in Delhi. Planning for this expansion has been underway for several years, but progress has been delayed due to fund-sharing disagreements between agencies. Recently, GDA and UP Housing Board have resolved this dispute, paving the way for this expansion to go ahead.
What was the plan earlier?
In the earlier plan, the UP government was to bear half of the cost of the metro expansion, while the central government was to bear 20%. The remaining 30% cost was to be borne by agencies like GDA, Housing Board and Municipal Corporation. However, the UP government rejected this plan.
What is the plan now?
Now, as per the revised plan, the UP government, through GDA and Housing Board, will bear 80% of the cost. The central government will finance the remaining 20%. Recently, a meeting was held between GDA and Housing Board on the new funding pattern. Delhi Metro is currently preparing a new report on the route from Electronic City to Sahibabad.
Ghaziabad District Magistrate RK Singh, who is also the Vice Chairman of GDA. He said, ‘The cost of the project is expected to be ₹1,517 crore. We are now waiting for the new DPR from Delhi Metro. Asked about the new funding pattern, Singh said most of the corridor will pass through Indirapuram township, which is administered by the GDA, and Vasundhara, which is maintained by the Housing Board. Therefore, it is rational that both these agencies contribute equally. GDA is short of money. Therefore, he is planning to take a loan from the NCR Planning Board to fund his share of the metro extension from Noida to Ghaziabad.
Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) is already taking a loan of Rs 800 crore for the Hindon Elevated Road Project. 90% of that loan amount has been repaid. Now, GDA is planning to take another loan of Rs 500 crore for the metro extension project from Noida to Ghaziabad. GDA hopes that the NCR Planning Board will accept its request for a new loan.
