Friday, December 30 2005 16:44 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Launching the longest line of Delhi Metro, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (Dec 30, 2005) asked other cities to evolve their own technically and economically feasible mass transport systems like the Metro Rail and said the Centre would help in setting up such means of transport.

"I am sure the citizens of other cities like Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Kochi are looking forward to this kind of facility. I am sure DMRC's expertise will be of use while planning metros in these cities", Singh, who inaugurated the 22.8 km Line 3 of Delhi Metro, said.

He asked other cities to evolve their own technically and economically feasible solution. The Centre would encourage and promote all proven technologies that are considered techno- economically suitable and relevant for Indian conditions including rail, bus and other means of transport.

"The choice of technology has to be city-specific. Each city has its own transport requirements based on its urban form, level of demand, direction and extent of urban sprawl, projections of future growth and the like", he said.

Noting that "our cities have to become more livable," he said the government had launched the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission with the aim of making the urgently needed investment in world class public infrastructure, including a good, reliable and affordable public transport, in India's cities.

"We need to invest in public transport, in roads with space for bicycles and pedestrians, in sanitation, in public parks, airports, railway stations and many other amenities", he said.