New Delhi, July 3 (IANS): Union Road, Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday said the government will shortly approve a ‘Metro Mail Project’ linking Manesar to Dhaula Kuan in the national capital region (NCR).

"The detailed project reports and other preliminary ground and paper works are almost completed and approved of," Gadkari said while inaugurating "Smart Transportation Infra Summit and Expo 2015" here.

"The Metro Mail Project would cost Rs.50 crore a km against Rs.250 crore per km project cost of Metro rail," said Gadkari, who also holds the shipping ministry portfolio.

According to Gadkari, who was speaking at an event organised under the aegis of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the project with a length of 70 km would cost an estimated Rs.3,500 crore.

Without disclosing the time frame for the project launch, Gadkari said: “It would be one of the pilot projects of the ministry. Following its success, other such projects would also be implemented to connect townships with bigger metropolis."

The minister revealed that the government was also exploring possibilities to introduce electric buses and car services in the hilly states to protect their environment and ecology.