Ludhiana likely to get MRT as alternate public transportation option
The Punjab Government has commenced a feasibility study of metro mode public transportation in Mohali, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Patiala as part of developments related to road congestion in major cities.
An underground metro could be considered for Ludhiana which has the biggest volume of traffic in the state, the Tribune News Service reported quoting sources at the Housing and Urban Development Department.
Heavy-duty Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) could be considered for Ludhiana and other cities with heavy traffic flow, it said.
Lower cost Metrolite could be installed in cities with low volume of traffic.
Also under study is the feasibility of Metro Neo system, the cost of which is little more than one-third than running a normal metro. It would be better option for a comparatively much lesser traffic city.
Detailed feasibility reports would be finalized based on population and city layout, according to the report, which said a meeting was held recently by the Punjab Municipal Infrastructure Development Company with Rail India Technical and Economic Service and Urban Mass Transit Company Limited.
“We are expecting the report within 6-7 months and will be able to comment on the line of action only after studying the options,” Housing and Urban Development Minister Aman Arora was quoted as saying.
“The Golden Temple in Amritsar alone witnesses more than 1.25 lakh pilgrims daily. Traffic rush in Ludhiana is well known and Mohali is spreading fast. Looking at the pace of the increasing rush, particularly during the past decade, we cannot ignore planning alternatives to travel in Punjab,” the 26 Jan report had one Amritsar source as saying. fiinews.com
