Officials Recommend Metro Act, Parking, and Revenue Changes

All officials raised concerns over the time taken to acquire land for metro projects due to the requirement of conducting a social impact assessment. The Indian Express has learnt that the government is now considering changing existing legislation and drafting new policies to speed up new Metro projects and improve convenience for users, over four decades after India launched its first Metro rail.

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From amending provisions related to land acquisition to new policies for parking at metro stations and increasing non-fare box revenue, managing directors of Metro Rail companies and officials of the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) have made a range of recommendations at a recent conference. The conference, held on March 31 and April 1 in Gandhinagar, saw the participation of senior ministry officials, MDs, and other officers of all metro corporations.

States Urged to Amend Land Acquisition Law to Speed Up Metro Projects by Skipping Social Impact Assessment

According to sources, all participants raised concerns over the time taken to acquire land for metro projects due to the requirement of conducting a social impact assessment under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. Citing the examples of Gujarat and Maharashtra, where exemptions had been issued, the conference decided that other state governments should also amend the Act to dispense with the social impact assessment for Metro projects, it is learnt.

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Works) Act, 1978, which does not require a social impact assessment, but only empowers the Union government for land acquisition.. While evaluating the functioning of metros in the country, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Housing and Urban Affairs had in 2022 flagged the need to increase ridership and flagged the lack of parking as one of the reasons for commuters to stay away.

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