Delhi Metro seeks ₹4,280 Crore more from JICA to buy Train Coaches

Delhi Metro seeks ₹4,280 Crore more from JICA to buy Train Coaches

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has sought ₹4,280 crore from Japan’s funding agency – Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) – to buy 476 Metro cars or coaches. The move follows overcrowding in several segments of the Delhi Metro

JICA, which has already provided ₹16,588 crore for the Delhi Metro network, is in the process of giving an additional ₹19,335 crore for the ongoing phase-III network.

DMRC recently made a request to the Japanese government through their (Japan’s) Ambassador in India for extending financial support to fund the procurement of an additional 476 cars (coaches) at an estimated cost of around ₹4,280 crore, said a release, adding that JICA’s Vice-President Irigaki Hidetoshi had met Mangu Singh, Managing Director, DMRC.

JICA had supported DMRC in the construction of phase-I, -II and -III of the project. It has so far provided financial assistance of ₹6,356.45 crore for phase-I, ₹10,231.62 crore for phase-II, which is already operational, and is providing further assistance of ₹19,335 crore for the ongoing phase-III works, DMRC said.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has sought ₹4,280 crore from Japan’s funding agency – Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) – to buy 476 Metro cars or coaches. The move follows overcrowding in several segments of the Delhi Metro.

JICA, which has already provided ₹16,588 crore for the Delhi Metro network, is in the process of giving an additional ₹19,335 crore for the ongoing phase-III network.

DMRC recently made a request to the Japanese government through their (Japan’s) Ambassador in India for extending financial support to fund the procurement of an additional 476 cars (coaches) at an estimated cost of around ₹4,280 crore, said a release, adding that JICA’s Vice-President Irigaki Hidetoshi had met Mangu Singh, Managing Director, DMRC.

JICA had supported DMRC in the construction of phase-I, -II and -III of the project. It has so far provided financial assistance of ₹6,356.45 crore for phase-I, ₹10,231.62 crore for phase-II, which is already operational, and is providing further assistance of ₹19,335 crore for the ongoing phase-III works, DMRC said.

JICA reiterates its support to continuous development of Delhi Metro and improved water and sanitation facilities in Delhi

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has reiterated its support to continuous development of Delhi Metro and partnership with Delhi Jal Board for improvement in urban transportation and in water supply and sewerage facilities in Delhi. Hidetoshi Irigaki, Vice President, JICA and Takema Sakamoto, Chief Representative, JICA India Office reiterated JICA’s positive stance in their meetings with Mangu Singh, Managing Director, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and Keshav Chandra, Chief Executive Officer, Delhi Jal Board. JICA has extended in concessional Official Development Assistance (ODA) loans JPY 650,000 million (approx. Rs 35,000 crore) since 1997 for development of Delhi Metro, JPY 28,975 million (approx. Rs 1,500 crore) in 2012 for water supply improvement in Delhi and JPY 63,677 million (approx. Rs 3,350 crore) since 1992 for Yamuna Action Plan.

The average daily ridership on the Delhi Metro has reached to 28 lakh. According to Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) estimates, Delhi Metro enabled 3.9 lakh vehicles to remain off the roads in 2014 and saved 32 minutes every trip on an average for a commuter. Furthermore, green initiatives of Delhi Metro were appreciated by the United Nations at the 2015 Paris Climate Conference, as Delhi Metro will enable climate change mitigation of about 2.2 million tonnes between 2008 and 2032 in terms of carbon-dioxide equivalent.

Irigaki said, “Delhi Metro’s contribution to providing safe, timely and comfortable public transport, which has been the result of not only infrastructure creation but also strong organizational capacity, has been exemplary. Delhi Metro is a shining example of India-Japan cooperation, and it is commendable that Delhi Metro is sharing its expertise of planning, implementation and subsequent operation with other metro projects in India and abroad. Delhi Metro is being relied upon to mitigate vehicular traffic and resultant air-pollution further, and JICA would like to continue its partnership with Delhi Metro in this endeavor.”

The JICA assisted Delhi water supply improvement project is aimed at improvement of water supply services for equitable and continuous water supply. The project entails reconstructing water treatment plants, pump stations, water distribution pipes and water meters in the Chandrawal command area, introducing SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system which allows remote monitoring and control of equipments and improving GIS (Geographic Information System) there. The project will lead to reduction in non-revenue water and water lost through pipeline leakages in the Chandrawal command area from 50% to 15%. Additionally, JICA is assisting with enhancing operation and maintenance capacity of Delhi Jal Board through a technical cooperation project.

Irigaki also said, “The efforts of Delhi Jal Board, which have been supported by JICA, have been appreciable in addressing the water and sewage treatment required for the increasing population of Delhi region. JICA’s comprehensive support with concessional ODA loans and technical cooperation for the Delhi water supply improvement project assists with both infrastructure development and capacity enhancement of project executing agency, and serves as a good practice of India-Japan cooperation.”

JICA has extended concessional ODA loans of JPY 945,668 million (approx. Rs 50,000 crore) for development of metro systems in Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai and Delhi. JICA has extended JPY 512,300 million (approx. Rs 27,000 crore) in concessional ODA loans for improvement of facilities for water and sanitation in various parts of India, over 3 crore people will receive piped water supply through JICA supported water supply projects, and 1.5 crore people will benefit from improved sanitation enabled by JICA supported sanitation improvement projects.