3x faster, 'rapid rail' to connect MP urban cities with towns: Jaivardhan Singh

Bhopal: In a bid to improve intra-state connectivity, Madhya Pradesh government is planning to launch Regional Rapid Transport System (RRTS) that would complement metro rail. Making the announcement here on Tuesday MP urban development minister, Jaivardhan Singh said “Rapid rail will connect fast developing corridors on the periphery of Indore, Bhopal and other urban cities," said Singh.

The detailed project report implementation is being developed in coordination with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). The announcement of rapid rail network comes exactly three months after, MP government inked an MoU with Union government for construction of metro rail project in Bhopal and Indore.

"First instalment for funding of metro rail is expected to be received within a month, after which tenders for next phase of metro rail development in Bhopal and Indore will be floated," said Singh. Construction of elevated sections of the project has already begun.

To compliment metro rail, high-speed train service on the lines of Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut route has been proposed. "Speed of rapid rail, is three times more than the average speed compared to the Delhi Metro system in place," he said.

An assessment report for development of RRTS for Indore-Ujjain and Indore-Dewas is in the works, said MP urban development additional commissioner and MPMRCL managing director, Swatantra Kumar Singh.

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GFX I

Rapid Rail:

Speed at 180 km/hr, three times that of Delhi Metro. Bhopal metro is to travel at top speed of 60 kmph

RRTS will connect outskirts and satellite towns to urban centres like Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur and Gwalior

Cost of development is expected to be similar to metro. However, cost depends on elevated sections. It would run independent of Indian Railways

Conventional metro rail, has one stop per km. RRTS would have a stop every five to eight km

RRTS would be fully air-conditioned and state of the art tech in public transport

First connect proposed between Indore-Ujjain, Indore-Dewas. Other options under review is Bhopal to Sehore, Bhopal to Betul

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GFX II

MP Urban development

Madhya Pradesh government on Tuesday announced its plan to develop 34 cities in the state on the lines of the seven best planned cities in the world.

Geographic Information System (GIS)-based master plan for the 34 cities on the lines of the cities like London, New York and Johannesburg, Urban Development Minister Jaivardhan Singh said.

Focus areas:

Transit-oriented development, mix-land use, zoning plan and traffic

28% of the total population of MP is centred in cities

Mukhya Mantri Yuva Swabhiman Yojana - temporary employment of 100 days or stipend for youth in 166 urban bodies

To prevent single use plastic, 4 lakh cloth bags have been distributed

Akshay Jal Sanchay Abhiyan -- 80k roof water harvesting structures have been constructed in 378 urban bodies

Mukhya Mantri Awas Mission launched on September 11, 2019. Construction of 1.15 lakh residential units approved