Jaipur, July 4 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday virtually laid the foundation stone for the Jaipur Metro Rail Project Phase-2 during the inauguration ceremony of the Rajasthan Refinery at Pachpadra in Balotra district.

The project will significantly improve connectivity to Jaipur’s major industrial hubs, including Sitapura and Vishwakarma Industrial Area (VKIA), while providing faster, safer, and more convenient public transport to residents in Rajasthan.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that whenever the nation takes a resolve or sets a goal, Rajasthan stands at its core.

He noted that the state is witnessing rapid development of modern infrastructure and said that the Jaipur Metro Phase-2 project, along with the inauguration of the new terminal at Jodhpur Airport, would further accelerate Rajasthan’s growth.

He added that upon completion of Metro project Phase-2, Jaipur’s metro network will extend beyond 50 km, providing greater convenience to residents while enhancing the travel experience for tourists visiting the Pink City.

Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma said that Prime Minister Modi has gifted Rajasthan the Jaipur Metro Phase-2 project, involving an investment of more than Rs 13,037 crore.

He added that while Jaipur is globally renowned as the Pink City, it is now steadily emerging as a modern metro city without compromising its rich heritage.

“The new Metro corridor will provide significant relief from traffic congestion in Jaipur. Today, the Prime Minister has laid its foundation stone, and we are confident that he will also inaugurate the completed project,” the Chief Minister said.

Under Jaipur Metro Phase-2, a 41-km North-South corridor will be developed from Prahladpura to Todi Mod.

The corridor will connect major industrial and residential areas between Sitapura and Vishwakarma Industrial Area (VKIA), creating a modern, high-capacity public transport backbone for the city.

The project includes 36 metro stations and will be implemented at a cost of more than Rs 13,037 crore by the Rajasthan Metro Rail Corporation Limited (RMRCL), a 50:50 joint venture between the Union government and the Rajasthan government.

The corridor will provide seamless connectivity to key destinations, including Sitapura Industrial Area, VKIA, Jaipur International Airport, Tonk Road, Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital, SMS Stadium, the Collectorate, Jaipur Railway Station, Ambabari, and Vidyadhar Nagar.

An underground station will also be constructed in the airport area, ensuring an integrated and uninterrupted metro network across the city.

At present, Jaipur Metro Phase-1 operates an 11.64-km North-West corridor from Mansarovar to Badi Chaupar with 11 stations.

Metro project Phase-2 will substantially expand the network by adding a North-South corridor.

After approval by the Union Cabinet, Rajasthan Metro Rail Corporation Limited has issued the Letter of Acceptance (LoA) for works worth more than Rs 918.04 crore under the first package of Phase-2.

The package includes the design and construction of a 12-km elevated corridor from Prahladpura to Pinjrapol Gaushala, comprising an elevated viaduct and 10 elevated stations, Prahladpura, Manpura, Beelwa Kalan, Beelwa, Goner Mor, Sitapura, Jaipur Exhibition and Convention Centre (JECC), Kumbha Marg, Haldighati Gate, and Pinjrapol Gaushala.

A spur line connecting the main corridor to the Jaipur Metro Phase-2 depot will also be constructed.

The project will significantly strengthen Jaipur’s multi-modal transport network by integrating metro services with the airport, railway station, and major bus terminals.

Plans are also being prepared to operate feeder bus services connecting nearby towns, including Chaksu and Chomu, with the nearest metro stations at Prahladpura and Todi Mod, making regional travel more convenient.

At present, the Jaipur Metro records an average daily ridership of around 50,000 passengers.

With the completion of Phase-2, daily ridership is projected to increase to nearly 2.5 lakh passengers and is expected to exceed four lakh in the coming years.

–IANS

arc/khz