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KOCHI METRO RAIL BEGINS PHASE II CONSTRUCTION DELHI’S RITHALA-NARELA METRO CORRIDOR TO EXTEND
Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) commenced construction on INTO HARYANA
the viaduct and CEZ Metro station for Phase II of the Pink Line. Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot announced recently that
Industry Minister P Rajeeve inaugurated the project at the site of the Rithala-Narela metro corridor will be extended to Kundli- INFRASTRUCTURE
the proposed CEZ Metro station, with Hibi Eden MP, Uma Thomas Nathupur in Haryana. The Delhi government has approved the
MLA, and other dignitaries in attendance. extension in principle and will soon submit the proposal to the
Following the inauguration, Afcons Infrastructure Ltd, the Centre to move forward to the tendering phase.
contractor for the `1,957.05 crore Pink Line project, will begin piling The extended corridor will span a total of 23.73 kilometers, with
work for the viaduct. Afcons has been awarded the `1,141.32 crore 2.72 kilometers in Haryana. It will include 19 stations between
contract to build the 11.2 km viaduct, with a completion timeline Rithala and Narela, plus two additional stations in Haryana. The
of 20 months. If the construction is finished on schedule, KMRL is project is expected to cost approximately `6,230.99 crore and
expected to earn the distinction of the fastest metro construction be completed within four years.
agency in India. The overall Phase II project is anticipated to be Gahlot highlighted that the extension will link rural areas along
completed within two years, according to a KMRL press release. the Delhi-Haryana border to the city, providing a crucial
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has approved `914 alternative to the currently available bus services. This will
crore in financial assistance for the Phase II project, with KMRL enable commuters from these regions to reach central Delhi
MD Loknath Behera stating that a contract with the AIIB will be in about an hour and a half.
signed in October. “This extension will benefit not only the residents of Kundli and
Preliminary work for the project has already included over five Nathupur but also people from surrounding villages,” Gahlot
test pilings along the proposed route from JLN Stadium to said.
Infopark, soil tests, and topographical surveys. The new stations The Rithala-Narela-Nathupur corridor is part of Delhi Metro’s
planned include Palarivattom Junction, Palarivattom Bypass, Phase-4 expansion, which includes six other corridors:
Chembumukku, Vazhakkala, Padamughal, Kakkanad Junction, Mukundpur (Majlis Park)-Maujpur, Aerocity-Tughlakabad,
Cochin SEZ, Chittethukara, KINFRA, and Infopark. Janakpuri West-RK Ashram, Lajpat Nagar-Saket G Block,
KMRL aims to complete system and signaling works within Inderlok-Indraprastha, and Rithala-Narela-Nathupur.
four months following the viaduct construction. Additionally, Gahlot also noted that under Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s
the KMRL is preparing to discuss alternative routes to mitigate leadership, the expansion of the metro network aims to reduce
traffic congestion in the city-to-Kakkanad corridor during the travel time, alleviate road congestion, and promote public
construction period. transport usage, contributing to efforts to combat pollution.

NINE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS WORTH `12,500 CRORE LAND ACQUISITION FOR NEW YERPEDU-PUDI RAILWAY
TO ALLEVIATE THANE TRAFFIC CONGESTION LINE TO START SOON, SAYS TIRUPATI MP
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) Tirupati MP Dr. M. Gurumoorthy announced that the land
has awarded contracts totaling `12,546 crore for nine major road acquisition for the new railway line connecting Yerpedu and
infrastructure projects aimed at alleviating traffic congestion in Pudi stations will begin soon. This development is part of broader
Thane and its neighboring areas. efforts to improve rail infrastructure in the region.
Dr. Gurumoorthy reviewed modernization efforts at Tirupati
The projects include: railway station, which serves approximately six crore passengers
• Navayuga Engineering will undertake two major projects: a annually. The Union Government plans to enhance the
13 km Freeway extension from Mankhurd to Anand Nagar, station’s amenities to international standards with a substantial
Thane, costing `2,682 crore, and a 13.5 km coastal road investment of `300 crore.
from Balkum to Gaimukh, valued at `2,727 crore. To address traffic bottlenecks between Tirupati and Renigunta,
• J Kumar Infraprojects will construct an 8.2 km elevated road the construction of three under-bridges near level crossings
from Anand Nagar to Saket for `1,847.7 crore. at Carriage Repair Shop, Cotton Mill, and Chintalachenu
• Afcons Infrastructure is set to build a 4 km creek bridge is underway. Dr. Gurumoorthy noted that cable shifting is in
and a road from Kasarwadavli to Kharbao for `1,525 crore, progress and excavation for these under-bridges will begin
along with a 6.2 km elevated road from NH-4 to Katai Naka, shortly. He emphasized the need for measures to prevent water
costing `1,981 crore. stagnation during the rainy season.
• Ashoka Buildcon will be responsible for constructing two Additionally, Dr. Gurumoorthy reviewed progress at Renigunta
creek bridges—one at Gaimukh-Payegaon and another at Junction, which is set to receive `200 crore for modernization.
Kolshet-Kalher—for `1,265 crore, as well as an elevated road A new railway bridge is proposed at the Santha Gate level
from Kalyan-Murbad to Badlapur for `451 crore. crossing. He also highlighted the long-standing issue of water
• IKBA Infrastructure will develop a foot overbridge at Teen stagnation in a 1200-meter drain adjacent to the railway track,
Hath Naka for Metro 4 and 4A at a cost of `68 crore. stressing the need for desilting.
Furthermore, a third railway line between Tirupati and Gudur has
These projects are expected to significantly improve traffic flow been sanctioned, which is expected to alleviate congestion for
and reduce congestion in the Thane region. long-distance trains.

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