LUCKNOW, Feb. 21 -- A CAG report on the construction and operation of Lucknow Metro, tabled in the UP Legislative Assembly on Friday, cited major lapses and lack of service for commuters. "In static condition of Metro, interior noise level was measured inside the train at Munshipulia station, where the test result was found higher, ranging from 76.1 dB to 76.2 dB, against the internationally best practices adopted value of 65 dB," pointed out the report while sharing details of operation of the Lucknow Metro. The report by Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India also stated that the Metro route skipped Mahanagar, which had a sizeable passenger load. Similarly, exterior noise tests were conducted at seven places. The test result on static and leaving conditions of Metro was found higher at 81.7dB to 82.4 dB, against the international best practices adopted value of 60 dB to 75 dB, respectively. At one out of four places selected for measurement of noise level on exterior of Metro, the test result found higher 81.3 dB against the permissible limit of 67 dB in stationary condition, said the report. The report stated, "DPR of the project is a guiding document, which ensures the viability of the project. As per the DPR for N-S corridor, the ridership was estimated as 4.29 lakh in 2019-20. As against this, the actual ridership was 0.54 lakh in 2019-20, which was 87.41% short of the original projection." Pointing towards material used, the report stated the hardness value of rail samples was less as compared to the Indian Railway standard specification, which may lead to higher rate of wear and tear of the rail, reducing its life. The company did not determine any benchmark for maintaining noise level within permissible limit. Thus, the goal for providing comfortable environment inside Metro trains and outside at the stations was not achieved. All tests were carried out during non-revenue hours on the request of Metro authorities to minimise external noise factors. The state government, in reply, stated (September 2024) that the "guidelines and principles for the design of rapid transit facilities" issued by "Institute for Rapid Transit", Washington, DC is not a standard and is only a guideline. "The tests conducted by IIT-Kanpur on the rail samples provided by the company to determine the hardness value of rails at depot area and mainline, revealed that the hardness value was less as compared to the Indian Railway Standard (IRS) specification issued in December 2009," said the report. In reply, the state government said the tests have not been conducted by IIT in accordance with prescribed codal provisions. The earlier tests carried out during procurement demonstrated that the hardness measured satisfied the provisions enumerated in "IRS-T-12-2009". In response, IIT-Kanpur stated that testing procedures applied by it were as per the standards (IS 1500:2005), which was standard practice. The report also stated that the company did not include 'Alternative Analysis' for evaluation of various alternative technologies in the DPR, as required in the guidelines issued by ministry of urban development. The state government/company did not comply with conditions contained in the in-principle approval of GoI of the project such as periodic fare revision, setting up of District Urban Transport Fund and framing of advertising and parking policy. The company did not obtain 'no-objection certificate' for extraction of groundwater since commencement for bulk commercial use of groundwater either from Central Ground Water Authority or Ground Water Department. In financial matter, the report stated, "Irregular payment of plant & machinery advance was made to the contractor for already owned plant & machineries. The contractor was irregularly paid excess amount of advance for material at site contrary to the provisions of the contract conditions. Licensee for advertisement rights in trains was relieved from paying licence fee. Variations and extra items were allowed beyond limits."...