Kamal Ghorui
The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved Jaipur Metro Phase-2, a 41-km North–South corridor from Prahladpura to Todi Mod with 36 stations, at a total cost of Rs 13,037.66 crore, according to a government statement.The project will be implemented by Rajasthan Metro Rail Corporation Limited (RMRCL), a 50:50 joint venture of the Centre and the Rajasthan government, and aims to provide “seamless connectivity” to key nodes including Sitapura Industrial Area, VKIA, Jaipur Airport, Tonk Road, SMS Hospital, Ambabari and Vidhyadhar Nagar.The corridor will include underground stations near the airport and will integrate with the existing Phase-1 through interchanges and feeder systems, ensuring a unified metro network across Jaipur.At present, Phase-1 –an 11.64-km East–West corridor from Mansarovar to Badi Chaupar–carries around 60,000 passengers daily. With Phase-2, ridership is expected to see a “manifold increase”, boosting public transport share and reducing dependence on private vehicles.The project has cleared multiple appraisal stages and has an Economic Internal Rate of Return (EIRR) above 14%, indicating strong socio-economic viability. Funding will be through equity support from the Centre and state, along with subordinate debt and multilateral financing, in line with the Metro Rail Policy, 2017.Aligned with Rajasthan’s TOD Policy-2025 and national urban mobility goals, the project is targeted for completion by September 2031 and is expected to ease congestion, cut emissions and enhance mobility across the city.
