Games a stumbling block in Metro’s Phase-III project

The Commonwealth Games is most likely to come as a stumbling block for the approval of Delhi Metro’s Phase-III project. As the Transport Department and the Delhi government have their hands full with projects for the Games, sanctions for Delhi Metro’s Phase-III will take a while, maybe only after the Games are over.

The Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES) was commissioned by the Delhi Transport Department to conduct a study on the expected increase in transport demand and development of public transport network.

It suggested an additional 149 km of Metro, 40 km of Light Metro to be constructed in the Capital by 2021. Meanwhile, the Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS) is working out the routes to be proposed for Phase-III.

“The suggestions made in RITES and DIMTS studies are now being incorporated in the final proposal that we will send to the Delhi government for approval. The Delhi Metro had sent us a proposal, which is being worked upon,” said R K Verma, Secretary-cum-Transport Commissioner.

According to sources in the Transport department, the proposal should be ready in another two weeks, following which it will be sent to the Delhi Cabinet for approval.

RITES and DIMTS are working on transport-related studies in the Capital, and the development of the Metro network is being looked into vis-a-vis the possibility of supplementing it with the BRT corridor and Light Metro rail.

Officials in the Transport department maintained that constructing a Metro corridor is far more expensive than building a BRT corridor and hence wherever BRT can be supplemented the possibility will be explored.

“Around 60 per cent of the Phase-III lines proposed by DMRC are underground, which is far more expensive as compared to the elevated line. Every kilometre of the underground line costs close to Rs 300 crore while the elevated line costs Rs 180 crore per km,” said a senior official.

The Delhi government has been mulling over finances for the Phase-III project since April this year and is yet to take a decision. Reportedly, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit recently wrote to the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), seeking funds for the project.

Transport Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely told Newsline: “We are tied up with several Commonwealth Games projects and it is most likely that the sanctions for Delhi Metro’s Phase-III project might be looked into only once the Games are over. Finances for the project are a major issue that need to be worked out.”

The Delhi Metro had proposed six lines spanning 85 km, but the Delhi government, following independent surveys, had brought it down to 69.57 km.

According to the Masterplan the tentative deadline for completion of Metro Phase-III is 2015.

INA station will be one of the busiest

AS THE Central Secretariat-Qutab Minar-HUDA City Centre Metro corridor is gearing up for a public opening by mid-August, INA is expected to be one of the busiest stations in the corridor as it is a doorway to the INA, Sarojini Nagar markets and Dilli Haat.

“The work at this underground station is almost complete. The trial run for the entire 12.53-km underground Central Secretariat-Qutab Minar stretch is on in full swing and the entire stretch is expected to be opened for the public in August,” said Anuj Dayal, DMRC spokesperson.

The INA Metro station will have three entry and exit structures with separate gates catering to Aurobindo Marg, Dilli Haat and the INA market. The DMRC has also constructed subways for commuters at these entry and exits points below the Aurobindo Marg.

Dayal said that a major engineering feat was achieved between the INA and Jor Bagh Metro stations with the construction of two tunnels below the Indian Railways track and the Safdarjung flyover without hampering railway and vehicular traffic even for a day.