Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has called for building multimodal transport systems in cities that efficiently integrate different modes of public transport. Laying the foundation stone for the Kochi Metro Rail at a function organised at the Marine Drive in Kochi this morning, Dr Singh noted that an efficient public transport system is critical to the orderly growth and development of cities. He said unless services keep pace with urbanization, the country will face serious problems of haphazard growth, slums and crumbling city infrastructure. Noting that 40 per cent of the country's population are expected to live in towns and cities by 2031, Dr Singh said the high speed of urbanization poses unprecedented managerial and policy challenges that needs to be responded to.
The Prime Minister said the government has taken a decision to support preparation of Detailed Project Reports, DPR's for Metro Rail projects in 19 cities with population of more than two million. DPRs for such projects have already been prepared for 12 cities. The union government is also providing assistance for the implementation of Bus Rapid Transit System projects in 11 cities at a cost of more than 5500 crore rupees. The Kochi Metro Rail for which the foundation stone was laid today, is estimated to cost more than 5180 crores, of which the union government will contribute about 1000 crore rupees. The Metro line will run a 25 km distance from Aluva to Petta and is expected to be completed within four years.