Lokmanya Nagar-Sitabuldi metro route to be operational in August
| Date :31-May-2019 |
Metro Rail at Subhash Nagar station during the first trial run in Reach-III on Thursday. (Pic by Anil Futane)
Staff Reporter:
Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (Maha Metro), Nagpur, conducted the first trial run on Lokmanya Nagar and Subhash Nagar metro stations in Reach-III on Thursday. Brijesh Dixit, Managing Director of Maha Metro, told mediapersons that Lokmanya Nagar-Sitabuldi interchange route of Mazi Metro would be operational for public in the month of August. The trial run between Lokmanya Nagar and Subhash Nagar stations spanned the distance of 5.5 kms.
The Metro Rail route between Lokmanya Nagar and Subhash Nagar stations. (Pic by Satish Raut)
The entire Reach-III route covers a distance of 10.8 kms. The stations on this route include Bansi Nagar, Wasudeo Nagar, Rachana (Ring Road), Dharampeth College, LAD College, Shankar Nagar Square, The Institution of Engineers, and Jhansi Rani Square, Dixit told mediapersons. Lokmanya Nagar metro station links the semi-urban/rural parts of Nagpur district to Nagpur city. This station will serve as gateway to Hingna, where several educational institutions and industrial units are located. Subhash Nagar station will serve as a disembarking point for fun-lovers, owing to its proximity to Ambazari lake, which is a one of the beauty spots of the city. Both the stations, like others in Reach-III, have ‘Aqua Theme’, as the alignment is adjacent to Ambazari lake. A glass segment will be installed on metro route pillars from Subhash Nagar. It will serve as a walkway from Subhash Nagar to Dharampeth College.
While walking down the 730-metres long walkway and enjoying the beautiful scene of Ambazari lake, people can enjoy food as there will be a restaurant, relaxing zone, and shops etc. Fifty CCTV cameras will be installed at each of the stations to ensure tight security even at night. Besides, Lokmanya Nagar and Subhash Nagar stations both will have escalators, elevators, lifts, baby care rooms, tactile flooring for visually impaired people, and ramp for physically challenged persons.
A wheelchair access will be there for wheelchair-bound passengers. Dixit informed the mediapersons that Maha Metro had earned Rs 18 lakh since launching the operations on Wardha Road route. So far, 1.50 lakh passengers have travelled in metro train. Once all the stations become operational, the ridership will increase, he said. Replying to a question, Dixit said that the work had slowed down for three months during the Lok Sabha elections as many labourers had gone to their native places. Now that they are returning, the work is gaining momentum again, he added.
The Phase-I of the project would be completed by the middle of the year 2020 and Maha Metro was in a comfortable position in executing the work, he said in reply to another question. The work of under-bridge at Jaistambh and Loha Pul will be started soon, he added. As far as the work of demolishing the flyover in front of the railway station was concerned, he said that it would be taken up once the construction of proposed mall where existing shop-keepers would be shifted was started.
The construction of mall can be started only after getting possession of the lands of Madhya Pradesh bus stand, school, and Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation. Asked about summer heat this year, Dixit said that it had helped Maha Metro as solar energy generation was good. The station-wise generation of solar power is as follows: Khapri -- 67.92 kw, New Airport -- 112.45 kw, South Airport -- 132.275 kw, Airport -- 172.80 kw, Metro Bhawan -- 273 kw. Mahesh Kumar, Director of Maha Metro; Shivmathan, General Manager (Finance); Anil Kokate, General Manager and other officers were present prominently during the trial run.