Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday, inaugurated the Agra Metro, which has created history by becoming the first metro in the country to run on the tracks almost nine months ahead of schedule.
The prime minister inaugurated the metro virtually from Kolkata while Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath flagged it off from Taj Mahal Metro Station.
The Agra Metro is the sixth metro in Uttar Pradesh. Notably, the construction of the primary underground section was supposed to take 32 months, but it was completed in just 23 months.
On December 7, 2020, PM Modi laid the foundation stone for the Agra Metro.
In the first phase, the metro will run for up to 6 kilometers, including six stations in the priority corridor. The general public will be able to travel in the Metro from Thursday onwards. AI surveillance will be conducted within the metro station.
It’s worth mentioning that Chief Minister Yogi himself embarked on a journey in the Agra Metro, traveling from the Taj Mahal station to the Taj East station, accompanied by public representatives.
Sharing his experience in the visitor book, the chief minister wrote, “Agra Metro was virtually inaugurated by the Honorable Prime Minister today. Timeliness is important along with the quality of the project. Agra Metro has upheld this standard. Best Wishes.”
On the occasion, Yogi said the work on Agra Metro began in December 2021, and within two years’ time the work on the first 6 kms of the Priority Section was completed. This includes three elevated and three underground metro stations. With the completion of this work, metro services have also started.
Yogi continued, “With the commencement of the Agra Metro, Uttar Pradesh has achieved the distinction of being the first state in the country to provide metro services in most of its cities. Prior to this, metro services have already been running in Lucknow, Ghaziabad, Noida, Greater Noida, and Kanpur. Today, I am pleased that the sixth Metro facility is being made available to the people of Braj and Agra as well,” Yogi added.
The chief minister further mentioned that the Uttar Pradesh Metro Corporation’s dedication to the Kanpur Metro, Lucknow Metro, and Agra Metro projects has been commendable. Agra Metro has become the first in the country to achieve the record of developing three underground stations in an area of 3 km at a fast pace by completing the work before the stipulated time. This is an accomplishment in itself.
CM Yogi expressed heartfelt gratitude to UPMRC for their service, noting that the corporation has demonstrated the effective implementation of PM Modi’s vision for the benefit of the people of Uttar Pradesh along with that of visitors and tourists.
He said the Agra Metro, like the Kanpur Metro and Lucknow Metro, would emerge as a symbol of public trust for the quality of work and its completion in record time.
The chief minister said Agra is one of the oldest cities in the state, and the city of Brajbhoomi. The city is connected to the tales of valor and bravery of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He expressed gratitude to PM Narendra Modi for choosing Agra for the metro project.
“The work of other facilities in Agra like having its own airport and its civil terminal is also progressing rapidly. Ganga water should be available for drinking water under the JICA project. The government is also doing the work of rapidly pursuing those programs to develop this city in the form of IT sector on priority basis. Keeping in mind the convenience of the citizens as well as the tourists coming here, the efforts started by the double-engine government are being implemented today in the form of metro, airport and other public facilities,” the CM added.
He extended his heartfelt congratulations to the residents of Agra for this gift being given to them before Holi and thanked all the public representatives of Agra for their cooperation in completing these projects on time and expressed confidence that with continued support, future metro projects in Agra will also be completed on schedule.
After the prime minister gave the green signal, the metro embarked on its journey. Thirty-two students from Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 1 were selected to travel in the metro train. They traveled from the Taj Mahal station to Taj East. CM Yogi flagged off the train. The children were visibly excited over their journey. Their principal, Rajesh Pandey, said that it was a delightful moment for their school.
Union Minister of State Kaushal Kishore, Union Minister of State Prof SP Singh Baghel, local MPs, MLAs, and other public representatives were present on the occasion.