Metro phase-IV: Union Cabinet approves three of six corridors
NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet on Thursday gave an "in-principle" approval to three of the six new Delhi Metro corridors under Phase-IV of the network. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley shared this information with reporters at a media briefing after the cabinet meeting.
Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot has expressed his happiness by this decision taken by the Union Urban Development Ministry but on the other hand, Gahlot expressed his disappointment with the Union cabinet approving only three corridors after two months of Delhi government decisions.
While the Delhi Cabinet had approved all the 6 corridors comprised in Delhi Metro's phase-4 on December 21, 2018, the central government approved only Tughlakabad-Aerocity (20.20 km), Janakpuri West-R K Ashram (28.92 km) and Mukundpur-Maujpur (12.54 km) sections. This will add to the existing 350 km-long Delhi Metro network. "No reasons have been given as to why all the six corridors could not be approved. I hope that the Union Cabinet would approve the remaining three corridors as well," Gahlot said.
The matter of fact that Delhi Cabinet had given in-principle approval on December 19, 2018. The Delhi government had passed estimated amount of Rs 9,707 crore on Phase-IV for the next five years. This financial year, the Delhi government has allocated Rs 500 crore.
"The lines will have 17 underground and 29 elevated stations with 25 stations between Janakpuri and R K Ashram, 15 stations between Aerocity and Tughlakabad and six between Maujpur and Mukundpur," said in the Union government statements.
The other three lines which are yet to receive the Cabinet nod are Rithala-Bawana, Inderlok-Indraprastha and Lajpat Nagar-Saket G Block.
The total outlay for the project will be Rs 24,948.65 crore in a 50:50 sharing pattern with the Delhi government.
It may be pertinent to mention that by the end of December, 2018, DMRC had finished third phase Metro projects but fourth phase metro project could not yet start. This happened for the first time since 1998 that Delhi Metro could not start next project after finishing previous one.
