INDIA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first phase of the Kanpur Metro on December 28, travelling the 8·7 km from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur to Moti Jheel.
Passenger services on the initial section of the Orange Line began the following day, ahead of the start of full commercial operation on December 31.
The metro project was approved by the national cabinet on February 28 2019. The Orange Line will run 23·8 km from IIT Kanpur to Naubasta serving 14 elevated and eight underground stations, while the 8·6 km Blue Line from Agriculture University to Barra-8 will have four elevated and four underground stations. Both lines are scheduled to be completed by 2024.
Construction of the initial section of the Orange Line began in November 2019 and trial running on the first phase began on November 10 2021. The second phase will see the line extended from Moti Jheel to Transport Nagar.
‘Our government laid the foundation stone of Kanpur Metro, our government is also dedicating it’, said Modi during the inauguration.
The network is being developed by state project promoter Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corp, which in July 2020 awarded Bombardier Transportation a €245m contract to supply 67 three-car Movia trainsets as well as Cityflo 650 communications-based train control for the Kanpur and Agra metro projects, combining the orders to speed up the process. Afcons undertook civil works for the first phase.
Terratec is due to deliver two 6·52m diameter earth pressure balance tunnel boring machines in early 2022. These will be used by a Gulermak/Sam India joint venture to construct a 3·6 km underground section of the Orange Line serving stations at Chunniganj, Naveen Market, Bada Chauraha and Nayaganj.
- Read our exclusive interview with UPMRC Managing Director Kumar Keshav in the Autumn 2020 issue of Metro Report International magazine.
