This document summarizes the Indian Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs' response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1895, concerning the Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMTA) in Chandigarh, answered on July 31, 2025.
The UMTA, Chandigarh, was constituted on April 28, 2023, and has convened three meetings: July 18, 2023, December 13, 2023, and September 2, 2024.
The response clarifies that Union Territory Administrations are responsible for urban transport infrastructure planning and development. The Central Government provides guidance through the National Urban Transport Policy (NUTP) 2006, Metro Rail Policy 2017, and Transit Oriented Development Policy 2017. Financial assistance for urban rail projects is considered based on proposal feasibility and resource availability when submitted by State Governments/UT Administrations.
As of July 31, 2025, no Detailed Project Report (DPR) for a Metro project in Chandigarh has been submitted to the Central Government. Information regarding the RITES-led feasibility committee's findings, joint proposals from the Governments of Punjab, Haryana, and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, the estimated cost of the Metro project, and inter-governmental financial sharing formulas is not available within this response, as these are contingent on the submission of a DPR.
Key Entities Referenced
Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMTA), Chandigarh: A transportation authority in Chandigarh responsible for planning and coordinating urban transport.
RITES: An engineering consultancy company that led a feasibility committee for the Metro project.
Punjab: A state in India, participating in the proposed Metro project.
Haryana: A state in India, participating in the proposed Metro project.
Union Territory of Chandigarh: A union territory in India, participating in the proposed Metro project.
Metro project: A proposed metro rail project in Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana.
Detailed Project Report (DPR): A comprehensive report required for the Metro project, currently not submitted.
National Urban Transport Policy (NUTP), 2006: A policy formulated by the Central Government to guide state governments/UT Administrations for integrated planning and implementation of urban transport systems
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1895
TO BE ANSWERED ON JULY 31, 2025
MEETINGS OF UNIFIED METROPOLITAN TRANSPORT AUTHORITY
NO. 1895. SHRI MANISH TEWARI:
Will the Minister of HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS be pleased
to state:
(a) the date-wise number of meetings convened by the Unified
Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMTA), Chandigarh since its
creation along with the minutes of each meeting;
(b) whether the Government has reviewed the findings of the latest
RITES-led feasibility committee constituted and if so, the key
recommendations thereof regarding the viability of the project;
(c) whether any joint proposal has been submitted by the
Governments of Punjab, Haryana and the Union Territory of
Chandigarh to the Union Government regarding the Metro
project and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether a Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been prepared and
submitted in this regard, if so, the details thereof and if not, the
timeline for the same;
(e) the estimated cost of the Metro project; and
(f) whether any inter-Governmental financial sharing formula has
been proposed between the participating State Governments
and the Union Government and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE
MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
(SHRI TOKHAN SAHU)
(a): Chandigarh Administration has informed that Unified
Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMTA) was constituted on
28.04.2023. The first, second and third meeting of UMTA
were held on 18.07.2023, 13.12.2023 and 02.09.2024,
respectively.
…2/--2-
(b) to (f): Respective Union Territory Administrations are
responsible for planning, initiating and developing urban
transport infrastructure including integration amongst
various modes of public transport in the Union Territory.
Central Government has formulated National Urban
Transport Policy (NUTP), 2006, Metro Rail Policy, 2017 and
Transit Oriented Development Policy, 2017, which act as a
guide to State Governments/UT Administrations for
integrated planning and implementation of urban transport
systems. Central Government considers financial assistance
to urban rail based system based on feasibility of the
proposal and availability of resources, as and when posed by
the concerned State Governments/UT Administrations.
Presently, no Detailed Project Report (DPR) of Metro project
in Chandigarh has been submitted to Central Government.
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