Lucknow, May 10 (IANS): Keeping up with its promise of decongesting traffic and improving community transport, the Uttar Pradesh government is exploring the possibility of a Rs.16,592 crore Rapid Transit System (RTS) project on the important Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor.

According to government sources, the RTS would cover a distance of about 90 km. The National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB) made a presentation on the project before Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Jawwed Usmani Wednesday night.

Industrial & Infrastructure Development Commissioner (IIDC) Anil Kumar Gupta, it is learnt, conceded that the project needed "focus and priority".

The state housing department, which is the nodal department in this case, has been asked to explore the financials, workability and deadlines of the project.

Usmani told officials that it was a very important project for the improvement of public transport on the congested Delhi-Meerut route. He added that the state government would consider this project positively "once a formal proposal is made by the NCRPB".

The chief secretary has also asked the NCRPB to submit a formal proposal soon.

With an estimated development cost of Rs.16,592 crore, this high frequency train network, if found feasible and approved, will be ready by 2016 and would benefit around 5.7 lakh commuters daily at Re.1 per km, officials said.

Of the 90 km, 9.7 km would fall in Delhi while the remaining about 80 km would be in Uttar Pradesh.

Officials said the network would go a long way in saving fuel and time costs, the capital cost of the vehicle. It would also minimise pollution and traffic induced accidents.

Part of the greater NCR Regional Rapid Transport Transit system covering Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana and Rajasthan, this corridor is proposed to be developed by a joint venture company.