Discord over plan for Naraina metro station

'Minor changes' in the alignment plans for Metro construction at Naraina, has become a bone of contention between Delhi Metro and the residents of the area. The new plan — to construct one underground station instead of two elevated ones — has been rejected by the residents. Subhendu Ray reports.

'Minor changes' in the alignment plans for Metro construction at Naraina, has become a bone of contention between Delhi Metro and the residents of the area. The new plan — to construct one underground station instead of two elevated ones — has been rejected by the residents.

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As per the detailed project report for phase 3, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) was supposed to build two elevated metro stations - Naraina 1 and Naraina 2-on the Ring Road as part of Mukundpur-Shiv Vihar corridor. But a few months ago, the corporation decided to build only one underground station away from Ring Road "for the convenience of thousands of residents" of the area.A large section of residents and businessmen, however, cry foul. Unhappy with the realigned plan, they have demanded that DMRC should go with the previous plan.

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Naraina Vihar RWAs have written to Delhi chief minister, and other senior officials strongly opposing construction of the underground station, which according to them, would pose a threat to the safety and security of the residents. They also claim that the underground station would spell doom for shopkeepers, who have their shops in the shopping complex at Naraina Vihar A-Block, as a portion of the market would be demolished to build the station.

"If the DMRC fails to act in the next two weeks we will move the court," said Vashishtha.

Jitendra Tyagi, director (works), DMRC, said they had made the changes keeping residents' concerns in mind. "It would have been easier to go by the previous plan. But that would have hardly benefited the residents as the colonies are situated far from the locations. The new station's location is close to the colonies and we are left with no choice but to build it underground due to unavailability of land," he said.

"We will also rehabilitate people, whose business establishments would be demolished." But residents feel two stations would have been more feasible.