The objective is to improve the efficiency, safety, social inclusiveness, and environmental sustainability of transport in the Delhi–Meerut corridor of the National Capital Region.
The proposed Project involves the development and construction of an 82 km rail-based rapid transit system, with a design speed of 180 km per hour (km/h) and an average speed of 100 km/h. The Project will connect Sarai Kale Khan in Delhi to Modipuram in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh.
The Project will be jointly cofinanced with the ADB under its Multi-tranche Financing Facility (MFF) comprising four tranches.
The Project component to be jointly cofinanced by AIIB and ADB includes civil works for elevated and underground sections with stations, two depots, track work and traction.
Other Project components to be financed by the Government of India, the Government of Uttar Pradesh, and the Government of Delhi (Governments) are detailed design consultants, a General Consultant, two elevated civil works packages for the first 17 km of the corridor from Delhi, and all land acquisitions required for the Project. Further, rolling stock is also proposed to be financed by the Governments.
For more information about project financing, please review the project summary.
Applicable Environmental and Social Policy. The Project will be cofinanced with ADB as lead cofinancier, and its Environmental and Social (ES) risks and impacts have been assessed in accordance with the ADB’s Safeguard Policy Statement (SPS) 2009. To ensure a harmonized approach to addressing the ES risks and impacts of the Project, and as permitted under AIIB’s ESP and agreed in the cofinancing Framework Agreement between AIIB and ADB, AIIB agrees that the ADB’s SPS 2009 and related procedures of ADB will apply to the Project in lieu of AIIB’s ESP. AIIB has reviewed the ADB’s SPS and is satisfied that: (i) it is consistent with AIIB’s Articles of Agreement and materially consistent with the provisions of AIIB’s ESP and the relevant ES Standards; and (ii) the monitoring procedures that are in place are appropriate for the Project.
Categorization. Under ADB’s SPS, the Project has been categorized as Category A for environment, Category A for involuntary resettlement, and Category C for Indigenous Peoples. This is equivalent to Category A if AIIB’s ESP were applicable. An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) accompanied by an Environmental Management Plan, a Resettlement Plan (RP) and a Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Action Plan have been prepared to meet the requirements of ADB’s SPS and ADB’s Policy on Gender and Development, 1998. The EIA and RP prepared to comprehensively assess the entire Delhi-Meerut corridor, were reviewed by AIIB and found to be satisfactory.
Stakeholder Consultation and Information Disclosure. Public consultations have been carried out with key Project stakeholders and will continue during Project implementation, in accordance with national guidelines on restrictions imposed due to the outbreak of COVID-19. The provisions of consultations and stakeholder engagement are explicitly stated in the RP. In addition to consultations during RP preparation, additional rounds of consultations with affected persons will form part of further stages of Project implementation led by the Resettlement Implementation Support Agency (RISA). The consultation will continue throughout the Project implementation period. AIIB will monitor these consultations in coordination with the RISA, external monitor, and ADB, particularly in areas where land for the two depots will be procured (Duhai and Meerut). EIA and RP have been disclosed on both ADB’s and AIIB’s websites. The executive summaries of EIA and the RP have been translated into Hindi and disclosed.
Project Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM). A project-level grievance redress mechanism (GRM) will be established by NCRTC and implemented under the Project to address complaints and grievances. Communities and individuals who believe that they are adversely affected by the Project will be able to submit complaints to the project-level GRM for their resolution. In addition to the above GRM for addressing complaints from the local community, commensurate mechanism will be made available at the contractor level for worker’s grievance.
Amit Kumar
Senior Investment Operations Specialist
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
Sharad Saxena
Mission Leader and Principal Transport Specialist
Asian Development Bank
Prasanna V. Salian
Deputy Secretary,
Department of Economic Affairs,
Ministry of Finance
Republic of India
Home What We Do Project List India: Delhi-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System
