The metro rail dream was revived once again for Ahmedabad on Wednesday, when a high-level delegation, led by Singapore minister of state for foreign affairs Balaji Sadasivan, told top Gujarat officials that it was interested in investing in the project in a big way. A senior state official, who participated in the meeting, told TOI: "The metro rapid transport system (MRTS) in Singapore is perhaps the best in the world. There is a need to clinch the opportunity.'

The Opposition parties on Tuesday asked the the state government to keep the Rs 10,000-crore Hyderabad Metro Rail Project in abeyance for six months. Mr P.L. Srinivas of the Telugu Desam, Mr Bandaru Dattatreya of the BJP, Mr Ramulu Naik of the TRS, Mr Y. Venkateswara Rao of the CPI(M) and Mr K. Srinivasa Rao of the Lok Satta, requested the government to keep the opening of financial bids and awarding of contracts on hold.

It is certainly not a bumpy ride for the DMRC. A study by IIT students, based on vibration levels inside the trains, states the metro is one of the most comfortable modes of transport and that it adheres to international standards. The study, carried out with the help of equipment developed by UK's Loughborough University, was conducted on the elevated and underground sections of all three operational lines of the Delhi Metro. The results from all sections were within the "most comfortable' category.

Says IIT study using vibration levels inside trains as measure of comfort Commuters delight: Vibration levels inside Metro trains meet the "most comfortable' tag of ISO standards. NEW DELHI: The Delhi metro railway is one of the most comfortable means of public transport, according a study conducted by the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, using equipment developed in the United Kingdom. The study used vibration levels experienced by passengers in the metro as a measure of the comfort level and compared it with international standard ISO 2631-4-1997.

IN a major boost to the Mumbai Metro rail project, the Central Government has sanctioned Rs 4,500 as a viability gap funding for the project that is estimated to cost Rs 22,000 crore. Union Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy made an announcement to the effect on Wednesday. "Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh had requested for funds from the Centre. The Centre is sanctioning Rs 4,500 crore as viability gap funding for the Mumbai Metro Rail Project (MMRP)," Reddy, who was in the city to attend Sant Gadgebaba Rural Cleanliness Campaign Award functions, said.

Mumbai's ambitious metro rail project today received a shot in the arm with the Centre announcing the sanctioning of Rs 4,500 crore for its completion. "Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh had requested for funds from the Centre. The Centre is sanctioning Rs 4,500 crore as viability gap funding for the Mumbai Metro Rail Project (MMRP),' Union Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy said.

1st Line On Phase II Flagged Off 7 Months Before Deadline Delhi Metro's first line of Phase II

Inaugurating the new Shahdara-Dilshad Garden line of the Delhi Metro on Tuesday, Union Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy acknowledged that the metro railway was an example of public transport worth emulating. Citing the example of the United States where private transport is encouraged, Mr. Reddy said in the face of global challenges like increasing fuel rates and climate change, modes of transport like the metro should be encouraged.

The Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) has suggested the Maharashtra government to extend the proposed metro line from Ghatkopar to Andheri to it's international terminal. MIAL, the private organisation managing the city's airport, has suggested the idea to the state government at a national facilitation meeting recently. "MIAL has asked for the extended metro link to both the terminals of the airport. The state government will discuss the matter and then take decision on it," Secretary (Special Projects) Sanjay Ubale said.

The state government is under pressure to increase the project cost of metro rail from the present Rs 9,696 crore. The bidders, who were short-listed after technical scrutiny, made it clear that the project cost was financially unviable. Accordingly, the government is believed to have decided to extend the deadline of June 20 for submission of financial bids for a rethink on the project cost. There were also apprehension over the quality of infrastructure and mechanical components, including rolling stock and coaches, to be used in the project.