Clashing projections in DPRs for Metro Line-2 raise eyebrows
Jaipur: The new Detailed Project Report (DPR) of Metro Line 2, prepared by RITES, has sparked controversy as it calculates an estimated passenger count far greater than the number quoted in the DPR prepared by the Delhi Metro Railway Corporation (DMRC) in March 2012.
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While the fresh report estimates a passenger count of 2.3 lakh passengers for Metro Line 2 in 2031, the earlier DPR estimated around 6.8 lakh daily passengers would use Metro Line 2 by 2031.
This huge difference in passenger estimation has divided experts into two sections. A section of officials blamed the previous govt and stated the estimation wass intentionally hiked to increase the chance of loan approval for the project.
"Jaipur Metro is the only metro service in the country that is solely constructed and operated by the state govt. All other metro services in India run on a central-state partnership. We feel, to ensure a high chance of loans for this project to get approved, the estimated figures were deliberately hiked," said a senior official from Urban Development and Housing (UDH) Department.
Another section of officials feels RITES estimated the passenger count 'low' keeping in mind the passenger footfall in Metro Line 1, which operates from Mansarovar to Badi Chaupar at present.
Although DMRC estimated a footfall of 1.23 lakh by 2025 for Line 1, the present average footfall of Line 1 is around 50,000 only.
"Both the DPRs were prepared in March 2012 with Line 2 as a priority, which means the initial plan was to construct the metro on Tonk Road first and then on the Mansarovar to Badi Chaupar stretch. Estimation of the Mansarovar to Badi Chaupar stretch was done keeping in view that both lines are operating simultaneously. If the govt continued with the earlier plan, passengers' footfall would have also increased significantly on the Mansarovar to Badi Chaupar stretch," a metro official said.
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