Jaipur Metro planned on inflated stats!

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) had prepared the plan for Jaipur Metro on inflated population growth estimates. The DMRC had estimated the city population to exceed by 92 lakh by 2031 and accordingly estimated a peak hour per direction traffic (PHPDT) of 27,750 by the same year at the East West corridor. Accordingly, a medium metro system was proposed for Jaipur as a light rail transit system is recommended for peak traffic load of upto 25,000 PHPDT.

The Jaipur metro, however, has corrected the population estimates by almost 50%. The latest comprehensive mobility plan proposed by Jaipur Metro has put the population estimate for 2031 at 52 lakh, nearly 44 per cent less than previous estimates. “Population projections were found to be on the higher side due to high growth rates adopted, which will influence the trip generation,” admits a senior officer at JMRC. 

The initial detailed project adopted uniform growth rate across city. The rates were kept same in the densely populated Walled City to sparsely populated outer areas. The recent mobility plan has rationalised the growth rates according to areas finds city to be much less congested than DMRC estimates.

However, the Jaipur Metro Rail Corporation (JMRC) officials are still in favour of a medium-scale metro in city. 

“The population estimates have been revised yet the per day passenger load estimates have been close to previous estimates. Even the latest survey suggests the need for another medium-metro corridor from Sitapura to VKI,” says director project (JMRC) Ashwani Saxena. 

Even as the Jaipur metro seeks further extension, the latest survey held for the process raises questions on projections made in the initial detailed project report. This has once again raised questions on the viability of the mass transit project in accordance to Jaipur.

The consultant to carry out the survey for latest CMP has also altered the model for calculating the trip generation adopted by DMRC. However, despite changes, recent CMP fails to find viability at previously proposed metro route and has thus recommended extension of the proposed phase II to make metro viable at Jaipur.

2031 Dilemma

92 lakh Estimated population of Jaipur by DMRC by 2031
52 lakh Estimate of latest comprehensive mobility plan proposed by Jaipur metro by 2031.

Still In Favour

However, the Jaipur Metro Rail Corporation (JMRC) officials are still in favour of a medium-scale metro in the city. “The population estimates have been revised yet the per day passenger load estimates have been close to previous estimates,” says director project (JMRC) Ashwani Saxena. 

The latest survey held for the process raises questions on projections made in the initial detailed project report.