Built in three years at a cost of Rs 1,450 crore, the Rapid Metro was opened for public in November 2013. However, residents of Gurugram will tell you that low ridership, high cost and poor location were responsible for the demise of the metro operation.12

  • 1. There are multiple reasons for this. However, the biggest issue is the project alignment. Phase-I of Rapid Metro revolves around Cyber City, which is a work area, but not everyone working there lives around on the Rapid Metro line.
  • 2. The annual report of 2017-18 throws up a strange fact. It shows that the Rapid Metro earned more from advertisements than passenger traffic. About 60 per cent of the revenues came from advertisements, while the share of traffic revenues was only 39 per cent.

Built in three years at a cost of Rs 1,450 crore, the service was opened for public in November 2013. However, residents of Gurugram will tell you that low ridership, high cost and poor location were responsible for the demise of the metro operation.

The two special purpose vehicles (SPVs) of IL&FS -- Rapid Metro Rail Gurgaon Limited (RMGL) and Rapid Metro Rail Gurgaon South Limited -- which have been running the Rapid Metro in Gurugram since 2013 and 2017, respectively, have served their termination notices to the state government stating an alleged breach of contract.

India's infrastructure deficit story is well documented and when built up infra like this ill-fated Rapid Metro project succumbs to the dictates of time, it is an even bigger travesty.

It is now incumbent on the HUDA to not just run this operation, but also fix what is broke. People in Gurugram will tell you that the line needs to be taken towards old Gurugram across the Expressway which is in dire need of good public transport.

HUDA will have to study the modalities of reviving the ridership, which is in disrepair and extending the line to areas which actually require such a Rapid Metro. By combining this with the Delhi Metro, it can be a game changer as a local transport instrumentality in higher middle and lower-income density areas.

By taking it to the higher income stretch of Golf Course Road, Rapid Metro actually did a disservice to the operation for the residents there don't require public transport.

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