Top officials likely to discuss proposed change in IGI link

Top officials of the Haryana government and the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) will meet soon to discuss whether the proposed high-speed metro link between Iffco Chowk and IGI Airport at Sector 21 Dwarka can run through old Gurgaon. Dhananjay Jha reports.

Top officials of the Haryana government and the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) will meet soon to discuss whether the proposed high-speed metro link between Iffco Chowk and IGI Airport at Sector 21 Dwarka can run through old Gurgaon.

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"The Urban Development Ministry has suggested a meeting with chief secretary, Haryana government, to discuss routes suggested by the Haryana Urban Development Authority (Huda) administrator Praveen Kumar to divert the airport link towards old Gurgaon," said a senior DMRC official on the condition of anonymity.

The ministry had called a meeting on Monday with Huda and DMRC officials in Delhi and asked the officials to prepare a feasibility report on the proposed route. The DMRC has already submitted a detailed project report (DPR) regarding the proposed 12-km Metro link that will have three metro stations between Iffco Chowk and IGI Airport.

"The Huda administrator had proposed an alternative route connecting IGI Airport to the highway at Rajiv Chowk. It may be five km extra than the earlier plan and will have five to six Metro stations," said the DMRC official. The Haryana government will have to give a fresh approval and a DPR will be prepared in case the planned route is changed.

The Haryana government is under pressure from residents of old Gurgaon who have been demanding a compulsory diversion of the Metro route. "We are hopeful that the Haryana government will do the needful and ask the DMRC to divert the Metro through the old city, covering Sector 5 and Friends Colony, and connect to the highway at Rajiv Chowk," said Dharam Sagar, chairman, FORWA.