Current Affairs

UPSC NEED FOR UNIFIED METRO LAW - English

NEED FOR UNIFIED METRO LAW

Why in News?

Recently, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Housing and Urban Affairs flagged the need for single and comprehensive legislation for all the Metro rail networks in the country and opposed the existing three central acts.

Recommendations of the Panel

• There is a need for the use of the less capital-intensive MetroNeo and MetroLite networks in small cities with low ridership instead of the conventional Metro systems.
• MetroNeo is a mass rapid transit system providing low-cost, energy-efficient and eco-friendly urban transport solutions for tier 2 and tier 3 cities.
• Metrolite system will have a dedicated path separating the road traffic with it.
• For segregation with road traffic, fencing can be provided on either side of the network.
• Further, the Kochi Water Metro project should be included under the Ministry of Heavy Industries’ FAME II scheme as it would be a pollution-free mode of transport using battery-operated boats.

Issues Highlighted by the Panel

• Low ridership in all Metros apart from Delhi and Mumbai.
• Leading to a delay in the projects attaining breaking even point.
• Even after six to seven years of continuous operations the issues still exist like:
• faulty Detailed Project Report (DPRs),
• lack of proper planning to provide first and last mile connectivity,
• provision of parking at metro rail stations,
• need for increasing catchment area, etc

All metro rail projects are covered under the legal framework of the Metro Railways (Construction of Works) Act, 1978; the Metro Railways (Operation and Maintenance) Act, 2002; and the Railways Act, 1989.

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