It is an award Rajasthan’s BJP government may acknowledge with a pinch of salt. The much criticised, but pet project of former chief minister Ashok Gehlot, Jaipur Metro, has brought laurels to the state.
It has bagged the award for the best urban mass transit system in the country. Union minister of state for urban development presented the award to Jaipur Metro’s CMD Nihal Chand Goyal and director Ashwini Saxena in the annual Urban Mobility India Exhibition on Friday.
The BJP, particularly chief minister Vasundhara Raje, was one of the biggest critics of the Jaipur Metro, along with Barmer Refinery, both of which were pet projects of her predecessor Ashok Gehlot. She considered them white elephant.
“The previous government spent Rs 3,400 crore as part of the first phase which covers a mere 11 km; '3,400 crore for 11 km. With the same amount, the state could have had 110 new flyovers and 5,000 km road linkage,’’ the chief minister said. Ms Raje had also accused the Ashok Gehlot government of failing to safeguard the heritage look of Jaipur. “The Metro’s line has spoilt the skyline of the city,’’ she had alleged.
She further lashed out at the previous government for choosing to utilise its own resources for the Metro at a time when everywhere else the Metro was being launched under Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode. Ironically, the BJP government’s efforts to rope in private investors for the second phase of the Metro have come to a naught. Eight companies from Singapore, US, Korea and Malaysia didn’t find the project financially viable.
As a result, the state government, which was earlier adamant on getting 50 per cent share from the Central government, has now decided to accept 20 per cent share. The Congress government had agreed to take 20 percent share, but the BJP government was not happy with it.
Politics apart, the Jaipur Metro, which became operational in June this year, uses the most advanced technology that ensures passenger safety and comfort apart from being eco friendly, including no possibilities of collision and derailment.
