Jaipur Metro is seen as a ‘failed’ project as CAG report shows it’s struggling to meet operational expenses due to decreasing ridership.
New Delhi: The metro railway was not required in Jaipur till 2025, said a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report on Rajasthan government’s performance during 2016-17.
The report, which was tabled in the Rajasthan Assembly during the monsoon session on 5 September, indicted the state government for taking the decision in haste and failing to choose the appropriate technology for Jaipur Metro.
The Jaipur Metro Railway Corporation (JMRC), seen as a ‘failed’ project, is struggling to meet operational expenses every year due to decreasing ridership.
The performance of phase 1A of Jaipur Metro — started in June 2015 — was poor as the average ridership during the first 22 months was just 19.17 per cent of projected ridership. With operating revenue of Rs 18.87 crore, JMRC was unable to meet its operating expenses of Rs 85.56 crore for the first 22 months, said the report.
In June 2006, the Rajasthan government had discussed the requirement of the metro with the officials of the ministry of urban development.
“Mr. (E.) Sreedharan, managing director of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, was also present in the meeting… It was recalled in the meeting that considering the estimated number of travelers, there is no need of metro till 2025,” said the report.
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But according to a Rajasthan Cabinet note dated August 2009, Sreedharan found Jaipur appropriate for the metro, added the report.
The then UPA 2 government, however, had decided in April 2010 that cities with proposed metro projects should have 50-60 per cent of public transport out of the total available transport on the streets. This was to ensure that metro projects were introduced only in cities with more dependency on the public transport. “Jaipur’s public transport was just 19 percent,” said the report.
It also highlighted that Jaipur was not eligible for the metro rail project due to its population. As per the 2011 census, the state capital had a population of 23 lakh whereas metro projects were allowed in cities with a population of at least 40 lakh.
The Central government had asked Rajasthan government to present the broad analysis of optional transport arrangements for the state. But the state government didn’t present any such analysis and decided to go for the metro in April 2010, added the report.
“The government said that the metro corridor will provide pollution-free transport, attract tourists, increase the economic activity, give a boost to the job creation and will increase the revenue of the state government,” said the report.
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The report also observed that the Rajasthan government didn’t follow the protocols for the evaluation of its metro rail system. Among others, a comprehensive mobility plan was not prepared, despite a Central government order. A behavioural analysis report was also not conducted.
The story has been updated after correcting an error. An earlier version of the story erroneously mentioned the Raje government was in power when metro project was started in 2010.