Faridabad-Gurgaon Metro link set to become reality

jendra Ahlawat

Tribune News Service

Faridabad, December 15

The industrial and commercial hubs of Faridabad and Gurgaon will soon be connected by Metro. Faridabad is being currently connected with Delhi via Metro.

A proposal has been finalised and the project would take off soon, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said in Unchagaon in the district’s Ballabgarh segment on Sunday. “We are working on the details of the project. The foundation stone is likely to be laid as soon as the detailed project report is finalised,” said Krishan Pal Gurjar, Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, who was also present.

He said both cities were crucial to revenue generation and the project would take Faridabad and Gurgaon, about 30 km apart, to the next level of development. The cities are linked via road at present. The main road connecting these cities was four-laned three years ago and commuters pay toll to use the road.

“Though it is early to give a cost estimate, the budget for this project could be between Rs 6,000 and Rs 8,000 crore,” said a source in Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). The budget for the 13.8-km Delhi (Badarpur)-Faridabad Metro was Rs 2,500 crore. It is likely to be made operational by May next year.

The proposal got a thumbs-up from residents. “The project has revived hopes of better connectivity between the two commercial hubs. It will also pave the way for the city’s speedy development,” said Ballabgarh MLA Mool Chand Sharma.

Ramneek Prabhakar of the Manufacturers Association, Faridabad, said the announcement was long-awaited given the growing number of commuters between these two cities. Such an announcement was made in the past too, but did not materialise, he said.

Devender Singh, a retired government official, said the Metro link could usher a new phase of development in the region, especially Faridabad, which is considered a poor cousin of Gurgaon in terms of development. “Authorities must consider a Metro link between Faridabad and Noida too,” he said.

“Lack of efficient public transportation has been responsible for slow growth progress of Faridabad, which has a population of around 16 lakhs. It’s a welcome move,” said Samay Singh, an entrepreneur based in Sector 17 here.