Nashik's much-touted Neo Metro project, once heralded as a revolutionary urban transport solution, has languished in uncertainty for nearly eight years. Despite grand announcements and government approvals, the ambitious plan to build India's first rubber-tyred metro system in the city has effectively ground to a halt, with authorities now looking at alternative models.
From "Victory Gift" to Vanishing Act
The project's journey began with high hopes. In 2017, following the BJP's clean sweep in the Nashik civic polls, then Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis declared the Neo Metro a "victory gift" for the city. The vision was clear: a 32-km elevated network with air-conditioned electric coaches, promising a safe, efficient, and eco-friendly transit system to transform Nashik's connectivity.
By December 2018, Maha Metro was entrusted with the project. After consultations with the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) and Cidco, a Detailed Project Report (DPR) was prepared and received the state government's formal approval on August 28, 2019. The project seemed on track.
Budget Hopes Dashed by Bureaucratic Delays
Hopes soared again during the Union Budget for 2021-22, when Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a substantial allocation of Rs 2,092 crore specifically for the Nashik Neo Metro. However, this financial commitment proved insufficient to propel the plan forward. Crucially, the proposal never secured the mandatory clearance from the Union Cabinet, leaving it in administrative limbo.
According to sources within Maha Metro, the original Neo Metro concept is now almost shelved. Officials cite significant changes in Nashik's traffic dynamics over the past six to seven years, a shift partly attributed to the city's airport becoming operational. This evolution has prompted a rethink of the initial blueprint.
Search for a New Transit Model Begins
In a significant development in April 2025, Tarun Kapoor, Adviser to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, directed Maha Metro to study global public transport systems in cities like Mexico and Abu Dhabi. The goal is to identify a suitable, modern alternative that aligns with Nashik's current and future needs.
Consequently, Maha Metro is actively reviewing options for a new metro variant or other advanced transit solutions. What was once a symbol of modernity and progress for Nashik has, through years of delays and bureaucratic hurdles, turned into a distant dream. With rising traffic congestion and no concrete plan in sight, the city's long-promised metro revolution faces an increasingly uncertain future.
The key facts of the stalled project are:
- Announced: 2017 as a "victory gift" after civic polls.
- Project Scope: 32-km elevated corridor, rubber-tyred metro.
- DPR Approved: August 28, 2019, by Maharashtra government.
- Budget Allocation: Rs 2,092 crore in Union Budget 2021-22.
- Current Status: Plan nearly shelved; alternatives under study.
