Aiming to boost a pollution free public transportation system in the Millennium City, the Gurugram Metro Development Authority (GMDA) has proposed a 27.48 km-long elevated metro project connecting Huda City Centre with Dwarka sector 21 station in Delhi.
According to a GMDA official, the proposal was sent to the state government for approval over a fortnight ago.
The project, at an estimated cost of Rs 4,591 crore, will be forwarded to the Centre after the state's nod.
The plan comprises 21 elevated metro stations and one maintenance depot at Dhankot.
"This project will be a great boost to the public transportation system as it will connect the maximum part of new and old Gurugram city through 18 stations. It will reduce traffic load on roads considerably as commuting will be possible in 45 minutes from Huda City Centre to Dwarka," said a senior GMDA official requesting anonymity.
Proposed Index Plan
The Delhi metro was introduced in the city in June 2010 with only five stations covering a stretch of about 6 km from Guru Dronacharya metro station to Huda City Centre.
Since then, the network has not expanded further in Gurugram to connect more localities and facilitate pollution-free public transportation at a low cost to residents.
Even the privately funded rapid metro is limited to Cyber City, DLF City and sector 56. The rest of Gurugram is completely dependent on timeconsuming road travel.
Right now, Dwarka does not have direct bus routes to places such as Subhash Chowk, Hero Honda Chowk, Sector 37 and other old city localities.
People have to change DTC or Haryana Roadways buses at the bus stand and IFFCO Chowk and then find another way to reach there using the Delhi-Gurugram expressway.
The areas between sector 37 to Hero Honda Chowk are known for industrial units, while Sohna Road is famous as a trade and business hub, BPO centres and high-profile residential localities.
A large number of residents living in Dwarka come to these places daily using personal vehicles.
"Such an exercise used to take more than two hours depending on congestion on roads. This metro route will connect people of Gurugram to west and southwest Delhi in 30 to 45 minutes," the official said.
Authorities have also proposed three types of station alignments: wayside station, wayside and signalling station and terminal station.
Besides, a maintenance depot has also been proposed at sector 9 Dhankot station at an estimated cost of Rs 173 crore.
GMDA has already proposed a shorter route connecting Iffco Chowk metro station to Dwarka sector 21, covering 12.28km through NH8 station, sector 18, Palam Vihar and Bijwasan at an approximate cost of Rs 2,296 crore.
"Since the short route at present has not been connecting a majority of residential localities in the city, top decision-makers of the state had for long hinted at finalising a longer route," the official added.