Lok Sabha Question No. 701 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-02
Subject: Mobility Problems in Smaller Cities
Ministry: HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
Asked by: Manoj Kishorbhai Kotak, Raksha Nikhil Khadse

## MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 701 TO BE ANSWERED ON DECEMBER 02, 2021

## MOBILITY PROBLEMS IN SMALLER CITIES

NO. 701. SHRI MANOJ KOTAK:

SHRIMATI RAKSHA NIKHIL KHADSE:

Will  the  Minister  of  HOUSING  AND  URBAN  AFFAIRS  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether the Government has introduced new  technologies similar  to  metro  rail  to  address  mobility  problems  of  smaller cities;
- (b) if  so, the details thereof and expected benefit of these systems over conventional metro rail system;
- (c) whether  such  systems  have  been  proposed  for  development  in the country; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof, State and city-wise?

## ANSWER

MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE (SHRI KAUSHAL KISHORE)

(a)  &  (b):    Yes  Sir.  The  standard  specifications  of  Light  Urban  Rail Transit  System  named  'MetroLite'  and  rubber-tyred  electric  coach powered by overhead traction system running on a road slab with an exclusive right of way named 'MetroNeo', suitable for smaller cities or areas of cities with less projection of ridership were issued in July,

2019 and November, 2020 respectively. MetroLite  and  MetroNeo  are the low cost mobility solutions with reduced system requirements and same  experience,  ease  of  travel  in  terms  of  comfort,  convenience, affordability, safety, punctuality, reliability and environmentfriendliness as that of conventional metro rail system. The low capital cost of these new transit modes than that of high capacity metro rail is  due  to  light  civil  structure,  lesser  axle  load,  smaller  stations,  low power  rated  electrical  equipment,  low  operation  and  maintenance cost  etc.  These  systems  can  also  be  used  as  feeder  system  to conventional metro rail.

(c) & (d): Urban transport, which is an integral part of urban development, is a state subject. Hence, respective State Government/ Union  Territories(UTs)  is  responsible  for  initiating  and  developing urban transport infrastructure including rail based mass transit modes viz. Metro Rail/MetroLite/MetroNeo/Regional Rapid Transit System(RRTS)  etc. As per Metro Rail Policy-2017, the Central Government considers financial assistance for such projects in cities or  urban  agglomerates, based  on  feasibility  of  the  proposal  and availability of resources, as and when posed by the concerned State Government/  Union  Territories  (UTs).  The  details  of  MetroLite  and MetroNeo  proposals  received  from  various  State  Governments/Union Territories (UTs) for central financial assistance, State and City-wise, are as under:

|   Sr No | State/UT      | City      | Name of Project                                                                         |
|---------|---------------|-----------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|       1 | Delhi         | Delhi     | Rithala-Narela MetroLite Corridor in the remaining 03 corridors of Delhi Metro Phase-IV |
|       2 | Maharashtra   | Nashik    | Nashik MetroNeo                                                                         |
|       3 | Jammu and     | Jammu     | Jammu MetroLite                                                                         |
|       4 | Kashmir       | Srinagar  | Srinagar MetroLite                                                                      |
|       5 | Uttar Pradesh | Gorakhpur | Gorakhpur MetroLite                                                                     |

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