Encouraged by the success of Delhi Metro and Kolkata Metro and the demand for MRTS from other states, the Union urban development ministry has approved in-principle metro projects for Kochi, Chennai and extension of Nodia and Gurgaon.
Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy said the ministry had formulated a national urban transport policy. He added that metro projects were also being taken up in Mumbai and Kolkata along with Bangalore.
According to Reddy, although urban transport was purely a state subject, a need for a national policy was felt as several key enactments were administered by the Centre and several key agencies were under the Central government. He said under JNNURM, bus rapid transit system projects for nine cities have been sanctioned for a total length of 359 km at a cost of Rs 3,352 crore. The Central financial assistance is Rs 1,602 crore.