PANAJI
More than a year and a half after Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced that the Goa government had drafted a proposal for a metro rail system in the State, the Union Government has informed Parliament that it has not received any Detailed Project Report (DPR) or proposal from Goa for approval.
The disclosure was made by Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Tokhan Sahu in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, indicating that no formal proposal for a Mass Transit System from Goa is currently under consideration by the Centre.
"Presently, no Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Mass Transit System has been submitted to the Central Government for approval by Government of Goa," Sahu stated.
The response comes months after Sawant had announced that the State had prepared a proposal for a metro rail network as part of efforts to improve public transport and address future mobility requirements and the discussions are in process with Central authorities.
Under the Metro Rail Policy, 2017, the Centre provides financial assistance only after a proposal is submitted by the concerned State government and found feasible, the Minister said.
Sahu further said that the Centre has formulated the National Urban Transport Policy (NUTP), 2006, Metro Rail Policy, 2017, and Transit Oriented Development Policy, 2017 to guide States in planning sustainable urban transport systems. These policies emphasise integrated transport planning, feeder services, last-mile connectivity, pedestrian infrastructure, non-motorised transport and para-transit facilities.
“Urban planning’ is a State subject. Therefore, the respective State Governments are responsible for planning, initiating and developing proposal for metro rail projects,” the Minister said in reply to a question tabled by MP Sadanand Shet Tanavade.
The minister informed Parliament that around 1,159 km of metro rail and Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) networks are currently operational across 26 cities in the country.
