Question : New Metro Rail Policy

Will the Minister of HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has rolled out a new metro rail policy recently and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether it is a fact that the new policy has been made for the benefit of the private agencies and to reduce the Government budget and if so, the details thereof; and

(c) whether the Government is aware that the proposed metro rail policy would become detrimental to the future metro rail projects and if so, the details thereof?

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS

(SHRI HARDEEP SINGH PURI)

(a) & (c) Government of India has issued the Metro Rail Policy, 2017 in August 2017, which focuses on systematic planning and implementation of metro rail systems in a more comprehensive and sustainable manner. The policy aims at ascertaining and enhancing the feasibility of metro rail projects from economic, social and environmental perspective. The policy is a guide to state governments for preparing comprehensive proposals for metro rail projects. The policy also enables innovative financing through Transit Oriented Development (TOD) and Value Capture Finance (VCF) and encourages Public Private Partnership for implementation of the metro rail projects.

(b) No Madam. As per Metro Rail Policy, 2017, a state government desirous of availing central financial assistance for upcoming metro rail projects, should mandatorily explore the possibility of having Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement in some form for implementation, operation and maintenance, fare collection or any other unbundled activities of the proposed metro rail project, to the extent feasible. This will help in leveraging both public and private resources, expertise and entrepreneurship in the implementation of metro rail projects.

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