Mumbai, July 15 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to lay the foundation stone for the 41-km second phase of the Jaipur Metro today. The proposed corridor will run from Prithvirajpura to Todi on Sikar Road and carries an estimated cost of Rs 130 billion (Rs 130 bn). The project is targeted to be completed in five-and-a-half years and has been divided into five execution zones. Officials say preparatory work is under way on several stretches.

The detailed project report for the route was first prepared in 2011 and has been revised five times over the past 15 years at a cumulative cost of Rs 120 million (Rs 120 mn). Final approval was secured under the Bhajanlal Sharma-led government around one-and-a-half years ago. The Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone virtually, according to official schedules.

The 41-km corridor is planned to include 36 stations. Work has already begun on a 12-km stretch from Prithvirajpura to Pinjarapol Gaushala at an estimated cost of Rs 9.18 bn. A second zone will comprise a three-km fully underground section from Pinjarapol Gaushala to Jawahar Circle Road Airport with two proposed stations, and that segment is budgeted at about Rs 11.6 bn. Tender documents for the underground section have been issued, with the opening scheduled for July 22.

Work orders for the remaining three zones are expected to be issued soon so that construction can proceed in parallel across the corridor. Modifications to Phase One include construction of a new station at Khaskothi on the existing Mansarovar to Badi Chaupar line, which will raise the number of Phase One stations from 11 to 12. Khaskothi will serve both phases and the two sets of stations will be linked by a 150-metre-long foot overbridge to enable interchange.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Construction World.