Metro lines should be underground: DUAC

The Delhi Urban Arts Commission (DUAC) on Wednesday observed that Metro lines across the national Capital should preferably be underground. It has also suggested the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to reconsider its over-ground alignment in Nizamuddin and Moti Bagh area proposed under Phase 3 of Delhi Metro.

The Delhi Urban Arts Commission (DUAC) on Wednesday observed that Metro lines across the national Capital should preferably be underground. It has also suggested the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to reconsider its over-ground alignment in Nizamuddin and Moti Bagh area proposed under Phase 3 of Delhi Metro.

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The DUAC observations came on a day when DMRC officials made a presentation at the DUAC regarding Phase 3 plans.

DMRC managing director, chief architect and chief engineer (planning) attended the meeting. “The Phase 3 plan was explained to DUAC officials. They appreciated the way the DMRC was benefiting people and completing projects on time,” said a DMRC official.

DUAC chairperson and its members made general observations and said the details would be worked out later. “However, we gave them two suggestions today. We wish that the Metro line in the Nizamuddin neighbourhood and near Moti Bagh should be built underground,” said Raj Rewal, DUAC chairperson.

Both Nizamuddin and Moti Bagh stations are part of the Mundka-Yamuna Vihar circuitous line under Phase 3. Nizamuddin has heritage structures, including many protected monuments.

The two agencies had been at loggerheads over the issue of DMRC starting work without DUAC’s approval. As reported by HT in May 2011, the commission had shot off a letter to register its objection. The commission’s 2009-10 annual report, too, had pointed out the violations.

Several months after the letter, sent by DUAC’s earlier team, a meeting was held recently between the minister for urban development and top officials from both DUAC and DMRC, wherein the minister had asked the metro officials to make the presentation. Rewal said, “We are not exactly paper tigers. There are three aspects — design, implementation and maintenance. We are restricted to the design aspect,” he said.