Pachpadra: Emphasising that Rajasthan remains central to national development goals, Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually laid the foundation stone for Jaipur Metro Rail Project Phase II on Saturday, a Rs 13,037 crore initiative that will extend the city’s metro network beyond 50 km.The PM said modern infrastructure is being built at record pace, adding that Phase II of the Jaipur Metro will add to tourist and resident convenience.The metro project, CM Bhajan Lal Sharma said, is being executed under a 50:50 funding partnership between the Govt of India and Rajasthan govt.Describing the project as a landmark gift to Rajasthan in general and Jaipur in particular, Sharma stressed that the balanced Centre- state funding model reflects cooperative federalism. “PM has given Jaipur a project worth over Rs 13,000 crore. With equal partnership between the Centre and the state, this metro line will ease traffic congestion and strengthen Jaipur’s identity as both a heritage city and a modern metro hub,” he said.The first package of Metro Phase 2, covering a 12-km elevated corridor from Prahladpura to Pinjarapole Gaushala with 10 stations, has already received a Letter of Acceptance worth Rs 918 crore. The implementing agency, Rajasthan Metro Rail Corporation Ltd, is jointly owned by the Centre and the state govt.The new 41-km north-south corridor from Prahladpura to Todi Mod will feature 36 stations, connecting Sitapura Industrial Area, VKIA, Jaipur Airport, Tonk Road, SMS Hospital, Collectorate, Railway Station, Ambabari and Vidyadhar Nagar. An underground station at the airport will ensure seamless integration with other transport modes.Officials estimate that daily ridership will rise from the current 50,000 to 2.5 lakh passengers once Phase 2 is operational, with future projections crossing 4 lakh. Plans also include bus connectivity from nearby towns such as Chaksu and Chomu to metro stations, ensuring multi-modal integration with airport, railway and bus terminals.
