Jaipur: The Jaipur Metro Rail Corporation (JMRC) is all set to demand financial grants from the ministry of finance for the first phase of metro project, which has been extended in principle up to Bari Chopar. However, the grants will be varying accordingly on whether the extension is approved or not.

When the project was conceived, a sum of Rs 1,250 crore was estimated as the cost for civil works of the 9.2-km-long route from Mansarovar to Chandpole project.

The construction of metro from Chandpole to Badi Chaupar was planned to be executed through public private partnership (PPP) in the second phase for which the bid had been invited.

On the direction of urban development and housing (UDH) minister Shanti Dhariwal, however, Bari Chopar to Chandpole was also included in the first phase that increased the project cost up to Rs 3,151 crore. The JMRC will demand financial assistance for the project with the extension included.

Sources in the corporation said financial assistance could be made of up to 20 per cent of the project cost. Thus, the JMRC will get a grant of around Rs 600 crore if the extension is approved. If the extension is not approved then the assistance will be limited to around Rs 400 crore. Therefore, the JMRC wants to discuss the reworked detailed project report (DPR) with the ministry of finance.

“We would demand the financial assistance according to the estimated cost of extension of the metro project. However, it entirely depends on whether they approve the extension or not,” said an official with the JMRC.

The sources also confirmed that the metro has not got sufficient funds to execute the project. As a result, the metro has also started taking loans from banks or other sources.