VARANASI: The Varanasi Metro rail project, prepared by Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES) and sanctioned by Akhilesh Yadav government, has been rejected by the Varanasi Development Authority (VDA).Now, the agency has asked RITES to prepare a comprehensive mobility plan and develop a Mass Rapid Transport System (MRTS)."RITES officials on Tuesday gave a presentation on the inception plan of Metro rail service proposed for Varanasi. Keeping in view the practical problems coming in way of executing the plan in previously selected corridors, it proposed introducing light Metro rail with a mass mobility plan," said VDA vice-chairman Rajesh Kumar."Considering the passenger load on various routes and requirements of the city, the Metro rail proposal was not found feasible. A Metro rail project requires huge investment. In case of Varanasi, the proposal hints at the fact that the project can't solve the purpose of providing a Mass Rapid Transport System (MRTS) for a densely populated city. Thus, the VDA can't make such a huge investment. Thus, it has been decided to scrap the Metro rail project," he added.Kumar said, "After going through RITES presentation and report, the agency was asked to prepare a new comprehensive mobility plan for the city for developing MRTS.""We have asked RITES officials to incorporate all possible modes of transportation including light metro, dedicated bus corridors, waterways and cable cars by analyzing the actual requirements of the city. RITES will provide the new comprehensive mobility plan very soon," Kumar added.

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