Amid preparations for the local body elections in Uttar Pradesh, the people of Ghaziabad can get good news on these two metro routes. In fact, on the instructions of Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, the Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) has sent detailed project reports to the state government for two Metro extensions from Vaishali to Mohan Nagar and Noida Sector-62 to Sahibabad. Both these projects are expected to get funds soon. However, in January, the government denied funding to the GDA for the project.

GDA Secretary Brijesh Kumar sai said, ‘We had sent the detailed project report for two metro extensions to the state government in January this year, but then the government refused to give funds. But last Wednesday, the Deputy Chief Minister of UP ordered us to send the report again, and we have sent the message. It is expected that the government can provide funds for the project soon.

How many funds does GDA need?

According to the budget estimates given to the GDA in January 2020 by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), the GDA requires Rs 1,517 crore for the Noida Sector 62 to Sahibabad route and Rs 1,808.22 crore for the Vaishali to Mohan Nagar route. GDA chief engineer Rakesh Kumar Gupta said, “Funds will be needed to start work on two metro projects simultaneously. The state government has funded metro projects in cities like Lucknow and Kanpur. Due to a lack of funds, the GDA has been considering various options for connecting the two metro extensions for the last one and a half years.