Govt worried over PPP model for metro project

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 11

The proposed Dehradun-Rishikesh-Haridwar metro project is expected to undergo changes after the Central government gave its nod to the Public-Private-Partnership model in the New Metro Policy approved on August 16.

The Dehradun-Rishikesh-Haridwar metro project was approved before the Centre approved the new policy, which entails 50-50 partnership between the Centre and the state. The Centre and the state came up with 15 percent equity each and the remaining 70 percent came through institutors and foreign lending agencies. 

“The Delhi Metro rail has been assigned the job for preparing the DPRs, all these issues will be discussed when the DPRs are finalised,” said Jitender Tyagi, MD, Metro Rail Project. 

The PPP component has been mandatory under the new policy. It also outlines three models of metro projects for Central assistance.

Sources claimed that the government was worried about getting potential partners on board. “The project could take a while before it takes off in the wake of new guidelines. Partners will be ready to chip in only after calculating its costs and viability. The public- private-partnership model has not been successful in a small state like Uttarakhand,” said a senior bureaucrat. 

The government has also begun its search for a new MD, after the incumbent, Jitender Tyagi, submitted his resignation and is working on notice period. 

Recently, the Cabinet had given powers to the Metro Board, thereby making it self sufficient to take decisions without having to look for approval from the government. 

Why concerned

Partners will be ready to chip in only after calculating its costs and viability. The public- private-partnership model has not been successful in a small state like Uttarakhand. — A senior bureaucrat