DMRC to build Dwarka-Gurgaon Metro line: Khattar

NEW DELHI: Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) will implement the proposed Metro line from Dwarka Sector 21 to IFFCO Chowk in Gurgaon.

NEW DELHI: Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) will implement the proposed Metro line from Dwarka Sector 21 to IFFCO Chowk in Gurgaon.

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Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar said the state government had given the final nod to the project.

The proposed Metro link has been delayed time and again as the detailed project reports were rejected thrice by the Haryana Mass Rapid Transport Corporation, citing non-viability of the project.

Khattar said there were three proposals for the extension of metro rail in the Millennium City and the departments concerned were in the process of finalising which proposal to accept.

He said it was to be decided whether the metro extension work would be implemented through DMRC or through a private metro company. The rapid metro operating in Gurgaon is a private venture.

“But it has been finalised DMRC will take up the Dwarka sector 21 to IFFCO Chowk route project” Khattar said at a public function in Gurgaon on Sunday night.

The proposed Metro route will cover Dwarka sector 21, Palam Vihar, Kapashera, Udyog Vihar, IFFCO Chowk.

Earlier, the Haryana government had scrapped three proposals – Metro line via Kapashera and two other routes – citing lack of financial viability.

After a survey, the government proposed a route covering Palam Vihar, which is densely populated. The total cost of the project, via Kapashera, was estimated to be over Rs 2,000 crore.

A senior government functionary said the cost was likely to increase when the line was re-routed via Palam Vihar but the government was ready for it.

Official sources said the state planned to fund the entire project and as such the government was hesitant to give a green signal.

Khattar stressed the need for alternative routes to connect Gurgaon with Delhi to mitigate traffic pressure on the Delhi-Gurgaon expressway and Mehrauli-Gurgaon road.

Gurgaon MP and minister of state for planning Rao Inderjit Singh, Haryana PWD minister Rao Narbir Singh, and Gurgaon MLA Umesh Agarwal have sought extension of Metro service in the city, including old Gurgaon.

A DMRC official said the corporation submitted a fresh detailed project report about the line this year and the call about the project had to be taken by the state government. He said DMRC would take up the project if the state government gave its nod.

POD TAXI PROJECT

Showing enthusiasm over the pod taxi project, Khattar said there were some issues in land acquisition in Delhi.

“We have proposed to start pod taxi at least from Sirhaul (where toll plaza was located) and take it to Manesar. We do not have any problem in this regard. If this happens, at least the project would start in Gurgaon area and later it could be extended towards Delhi.”