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Work On Delhi Metro Phase-IV To Start In December

Work On Delhi Metro Phase-IV To Start In December

Work On Delhi Metro Phase-IV To Start In December
(Flickr.com)

As the Centre and the Delhi governments have released Rs 800 crore for the Delhi Metro Phase-IV, the construction work may start in December this year. Work on the the longest corridor under this phase, the Janakpuri-RK Ashram route, is likley to be started first. 

The 103.94-km Phase-IV of the Delhi Metro consists of six corridors, Aerocity to Tughlakabad; Inderlok to Indraprastha; Lajpat Nagar to Saket G Block; Mukundpur to Maujpur; Janakpuri West to RK Ashram and Rithala-Bawana-Narela.

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs had on March 9, 2019 approved the 61.66 km, three priority corridors -- Aerocity to Tughlakabad, R K Ashram to Janakpuri (West) and Mukundpur to Maujpur, at a cost of Rs 24,948.65 crores. The Delhi government already had approved all the six corridors of the project.

Earlier on July 8, 2019, the Supreme Court ordered to go-ahead with the construction of the Delhi Metro’s 104-km Phase IV.  The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has initiated preparatory work for its much-delayed Phase-IV project. The project is scheduled to be completed in five years from the date of start of work.

In April 2019, the Kejriwal-led Delhi government had directed the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to not start work on Phase-IV until the housing ministry had approved its dispensation's proposal. These included two conditions — 50-50 sharing of operational loss between the Delhi government and the centre, and that the Delhi government would not bear any liability of the repayment of loan given by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). However, these conditions were declined citing that these were against the norms laid down in the Metro Rail Policy 2017. 

This decision is likely to further widen the gap between the state and the central government, delaying the execution of the Phase-IV consequentially. The union cabinet in March had approved Phase-IV of the Delhi Metro, paving the way for the construction of three new corridors, including the Mukundpur-Maujpur corridor, the RK Ashram-Janakpuri West corridor and the Aero City-Tughlakabad corridor. The combined length of these corridors will be 61.679 kilometre, spanning 46 Metro stations, 17 underground and 29 elevated. 

To be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 25,000 crore, the three corridors would take the Metro deeper into the national capital, improving connectivity while at the same time reducing traffic congestion. In December last year, the Delhi government had given a go-ahead to this project. The deadline for project completion is December 31, 2024. 

The funding crunch

After the Cabinet's approval, the Metro expansion plan is again stuck due to a fresh funding dispute between the Centre and the Delhi government. According to the officials, the state government’s share of the expenditure for the three corridors to be constructed by 2024 had increased by 30.86 per cent after the Union Cabinet granted approval. According to the document, the cost (Rs 2,447.19 crore) to be borne by the Delhi government for land for the three lines only is more than what it was earlier asked to pay (Rs 2,121.5 crore) for all the six lines. While the DMRC has started the designing work for Phase IV, including structural drawings that will take up to three months. The process of finalising and floating tenders can only start after the drawings are prepared.

The corridors

Mukundpur-Maujpur: An extension on the Pink Line, this 12.54-km route with six stations will be the shortest route in Phase-IV. The Mukundpur Metro Station will act as the interchange station and connect the Pink Line with Janakpuri (West)-RK Ashram line. Stations on this route are 

Stations

Yamuna Vihar

Bhajanpura

Khajuri Khas

Soorghat

Jagatpur Village

Burari

Tughlakabad-Aerocity: An extension of the Violet Line, this 20.20-km-15- stop stretch will provide connectivity to those travelling from Faridabad to Gurgaon. The Tughlakabad Metro Station will act as the interchange station. Running through densely populated localities.

Stations

 

Aerocity

Mahipalpur

Vasantkunj Sector-D

Masoodpur

Kishangarh

Mehrauli

Lado Sarai

Saket

Saket G Block

Ambedkar Nagar

Khanpur

Tigri

Anandmayee Marg Junction

Tughlakabad Railway Colony

Tughlakabad


Janakpuri (West)-RK Ashram:
This 28.92-km extension of the Magenta Line will have 25 stations, the highest number of stations in three approved corridors. The Janakpuri-West Metro Station will act as an interchange hub connecting the Blue Line with the Magenta Line.

Stations

RK Ashram

Motiakhan

Sadar Bazar

Pulbangash

GhantaGhar/SabziMandi

Rajpura

Derawal Nagar

Ashok Vihar

Azadpur

Mukundpur

Bhalaswa

Mukarba Chowk

Badli Mor

North Pitampura

Prashant Vihar

Madhuban Chowk

Deepali Chowk

Pushpanjali Enclave

West Enclave

Mangolpuri

Peeragarhi Chowk

Paschim Vihar

Meerabagh

Keshopur

Krishan Park Ext.

Janakpuri West

Once this phase is complete, the Metro route will cross the 400-km mark of total length.

Also Read:

4 Reasons Why Metro Could Be A Gamechanger For A City's Real Estate

Last Updated: Fri Jun 19 2020

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