Why you’ll have to wait another year for Delhi Metro’s longest line
Delhi Metro’s longest line from Mukundpur to Shiv Vihar was earlier scheduled to be launched in December 2016. However, several hurdles have forced the DMRC to push the deadline to April 2018.
Delhi Metro’s longest line — between Mukundpur (Majlis Park) and Shiv Vihar — will not be operational before April 2018.
Slated for December 2016 launch initially, the line, known as Line 7, is expected to decongest Delhi and Metro stations by bringing stations closer, giving commuters the option to inter-change at 10 stations. This would take off the load from existing interchange stations, especially the most crowded centrally located Rajiv Chowk.
Officials said the section between Mukundpur and Lajpat Nagar might be ready by September this year, but the rest of the line is still marred by land issues, forcing DMRC to extend the deadline repeatedly.
Trilokpuri land
The construction work between piers 52 and 61 is still pending due to land acquisition issues. A total of 108 houses are to be shifted between these piers. Out of these, 66 houses are being built on a nearby plot. 44 families have agreed for compensation and their documents are currently being verified. The construction will start only after getting the land, which means delay.
Hasanpur land compensation
DMRC required 714 sqm land at Hasanpur village in east Delhi for passage of a viaduct between IP Extension and Anand Vihar Metro Station of this line.
On the advice of DDA, negotiations were conducted for the easement rights of the two properties at Hasanpur. Sources said that DMRC paid over Rs 5 crore for the property, and construction of the viaduct is in progress.
NHAI decision to remove pillars
NHAI’s expansion plan on National Highway 24 delayed the project by eight months. The elevated alignment of the corridor passes over the NH24 towards Ghaziabad at two locations: between Vinod Nagar and Vinod Nagar East, and between IP Extension and the Vinod Nagar Metro depot.
DMRC had begun work on these sections after obtaining necessary clearances from the ministry of road transport and highways in March 2013. In June 2014, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) informed DMRC that there should not be any Metro pier within the 90 metres of Right of Way (ROW) of NH24, since the stretch was now a part of the Meerut Expressway project.
In September 2014, a decision was taken to accommodate the DMRC proposal and an agreement was reached after modifications, and work resumed. However, in January 2015, NHAI again issued a stop-work notice to DMRC, saying that the horizontal location of the piers on NH24 was infringing their proposed carriageway.
In June 2015, the minister had a meeting with all the involved organisations to find a solution. After obtaining all the necessary clearances, DMRC finally began work again at these locations in March 2016, but had to demolish pillars.
Land problem at Punjabi Bagh
The Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) had rehabilitated residents of two slums at Punjabi Bagh to economically weaker section (EWS) apartments in Baprola near Najafgarh. Delhi metro had to seek interference of chief secretary which led to delay of about three months.
Delay in construction of three pillars at Mayapuri
Due to unavailability of land, DMRC had to wait to construct three pillars in Mayapuri. However, after getting the land, the work was completed.
