Metro, DUAC heads meet

The Metro might have changed the way Delhi travels but there are some areas that have failed to find favour with the Delhi Urban Arts Commission (DUAC) — the body responsible for preserving, developing and maintaining the city’s aesthetic quality.

The Metro might have changed the way Delhi travels but there are some areas that have failed to find favour with the Delhi Urban Arts Commission (DUAC) — the body responsible for preserving, developing and maintaining the city’s aesthetic quality.

HT Image

The result: about half-a-dozen upcoming metro projects are yet to get the green signal from the arts body.

This seems to have perturbed Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) chairman E. Sreedharan, who went to meet DUAC chairman K.T. Ravindran on Friday.

The two heads discussed how the Metro should go ahead with development around its upcoming stations.

Speaking to HT, Ravindran said: “It was a informal meeting where issues related to some metro projects were
discussed. There is no problem with the structure of metro stations. DMRC is good at its job.”

Ravindran said the DUAC was concerned with the interface between the city and the stations. “Issues such as if there is adequate parking space outside or if there is no traffic circulation problem on account of the station, etc., came up.”

“There is a whole public environment surrounding the metro station and we are concerned that the station inside and the urban fabric outside gels together well,” he said.

Some projects yet to get DUAC approval include the elevated Okhla, Lajpat Nagar, Kailash Colony, Moolchand and Govindpuri metro stations in south Delhi.

Anuj Dayal, DMRC spokesperson, said: “It was an informal interaction where issues related to development around the Metro stations were discussed.”

At the end of the meeting, Ravindran, however, could not hold back his admiration for the ‘Metro Man’.

“He is a fine example of a competent yet traditional Indian mindset,” he said.