India’s Union urban development ministry is now considering proposal for Metro rail projects in cities having population of more than 20 lakhs.

The ministry is considering Metro projects for Tier II cities like Lucknow, Kanpur, Patna, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Pune, Surat, Indore, Nagpur, Kochi, Coimbatore, Kozhikode. The success of Metro projects int eh national capital Delhi as well as the newly opened Bangaluru Metro has propelled other cities to begin aspiring for the modern transport medium.

Cities like Chandigarh, Ludhiana and Bhopal are also ready making a strong pitch for Metro projects. Jaipur will be among the first Tier-II cities to build the modern mode of transportation as state government in Rajasthan has agreed to bear Rs 1,250 crore for the 9.25-km stretch under Stage I of the project.

The UD ministry will soon ask for Cabinet's approval for a project new project in Kochi to be built at the cost of Rs 4,722 crore involving a 25.3-km stretch. Ludhiana, Pune, Lucknow and Ahmedabad have already received on detailed project report (DPR) for metro projects prepared from Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).

DPRs for Indore, Bhopal and Chandigarh are also being developed by the DMRC. The union ministry is also interested in Nagpur and has written to the Maharastra chief minister Ashok Chavan. Kanpur, Patna, Surat, Coimbatore and Kozhikode are yet to begin work on the proposals.

"If state governments come with the proposal for Metro Rail in cities with 20 lakh plus population, the ministry is ready to consider," Nath said.