Lucknow, Oct 10 : The Uttar Pradesh government on Saturday said it would ensure that work on the Kanpur Metro Rail commences by January 2016.

During a meeting with metro officials, Chief Secretary Alok Ranjan issued directions to ensure that the necessary spadework is done this year so that the project can be kickstarted by early next year.

He also said it was proposed to develop two corridors of 33 km metro rail in Kanpur. 

The first corridor of 24 km is proposed from the IIT to Kalyanpur, Rawatpur, Motijheel, Navin Market, Bada Chauraha, Phoolbagh, Central railway station via Jhakarkati Bus terminal to Naubasta, while the second corridor of 9 km would start from Agriculture University and reach Barra-8 via Rawatpur, Kakadev, Vijaynagar chauraha.

Ranjan directed the Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation's (LMRC) managing director to start construction work on the IIT-Jhakarkati route first. 

The chief secretary gave these directions during a presentation on the Kanpur Metro Rail project here on Saturday.

He said to develop and operate the metro rail in Kanpur, the Kanpur Metro Rail Corporation should be formed soon. 

Ranjan asked the Kanpur Development Authority, Housing Board and other such bodies to present a proposal for contributing funds for the project.

He said the Kanpur Metro Rail should be developed in such a way that it works well as public transport for the next 50 years. He also directed that parking provision be made at all metro stations.

Presenting the detailed project report (DPR) of the Kanpur Metro Rail project, General Manager of RITES Ltd. Piyush Kansal said the report had been prepared in consultation with the Kanpur Development Authority and the LMRC and the estimated project cost is nearly Rs.13,400 crore.

He said 14 metro stations had been proposed on a 15 km overhead stretch of the first corridor, whereas eight stations were proposed on the 9 km long underground route. 

Likewise, on the second corridor of 9 km, five stations have been planned on the 4.5 km overhead route and four metro stations planned on the 4.5 km underground route.