Centre-state talks on Dehradun-Rishikesh metro soon: Minister

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 5

The state government will soon hold talks with the Centre for finalising the stretch of the 73-km long Dehradun-Haridwar-Rishikesh metro rail network. This was stated by Urban Development Minister Madan Kaushik while speaking to mediapersons here today.

He said the Cabinet would decide on the immediacy of the project and hold discussions with the Centre.

The project would be completed in two phases. In the first phase, metro track would be constructed from Haridwar to Rishikesh, while in the second phase, work to build metro track from Nepali Farm to Dehradun ISBT would be taken up.

The minister said the state government had already appointed project director and signed up with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) for preparing the detailed project reports.

He rejected the Opposition’s claim that the state was not getting support from the Centre. “There is no dearth of funds. We were able to convince the Centre to enhance the assistance given for the construction of toilets in both the urban and rural areas to Rs 11,500. The Centre has sanctioned construction of one lakh houses under the housing project,” he said.

Earlier, the minister took up the complaints during janta darbar at the BJP office.

He instructed the officials to take up the complaints on civic issues on priority basis.

“We will soon hold district level janta durbars for our ministers, so that people can lodge complaints at the lowest level,” he said.