NEW DELHI: India’s Urban Development Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said the Centre will take a decision on the execution of the much-awaited metro’s Phase-IV project if something is “lacking” on the Delhi government’s side.
After inaugurating the 24.82-km-long Kalkaji Mandir Janakpuri West Magenta corridor of Magenta Line of Delhi Metro along with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today, Puri said, “Let the Delhi government first take decision on it (Phase IV).”
In February 2016, the AAP government had given in-principal approval for the construction of Phase IV project, but the Delhi Cabinet is yet to take final decision on it.
In March this year, Kejriwal said there were “issues of financial viability” on some of routes falling under the proposed Phase IV. The Delhi Finance department had also made objection on some routes which may not be financially viable.
Asked about “so much delay” in execution of the project, Puri, flanked by Kejriwal, said that in democracy, there is a decision-making process in the elected government, adding the project’s proposal will first come in Delhi Cabinet which will take a decision.
“I just want to say that if something is lacking on their part (Delhi Cabinet’s decision), we will see as it will later come to us. And, if there is no decision from their side (Delhi government), we will take decision. Let the Delhi Cabinet first take decision which will later come to us,” Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs (Independent Charge) Hardeep Singh Puri told reporters here.
The minister said with the cooperation of Delhi government, decisions on other “remaining steps”, including on Phase IV, will soon be taken and implemented.
Talking about the Phase IV, Kejriwal said the proposal will soon come to the Delhi Cabinet.
“The finance department had made some objections, which are examined by the government. It (project’s proposal) will come in the Delhi Cabinet,” he said.
The chief minister said due to inauguration of Magenta Line, pollution level and congestion on roads would be reduced.
With the opening of this section, the total operational span of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) network has reached to 277 km, officials said.
Passenger services on the segment, which has 16 stations — 14 underground, two elevated — will begin tomorrow at 6 am from Kalkaji Mandir and Janakpuri West stations simultaneously.
After the inauguration, the dignitaries travelled in a train to the Hauz Khas metro station. At 29 metres, the five-level new Hauz Khas station is the deepest metro station in the entire network and an engineering landmark as its tunnel goes beneath that of the existing station on Yellow Line.
Source: Press Trust of India