Dwarka on track but Qutub & Gurgaon on hold
HE Metro will not be stopping by the Qutub Minar in Phase II, after all. Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today said the Metro will only run up to IIT in Phase II although the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) had wanted the network to extend further.
Today’s announcement also puts on hold the NCR Metro link to Gurgaon.
Speaking after inspecting the 22.9 km Barakhamba-Dwarka stretch, Dikshit said: “While existing lines will be extended considerably in Phase II of the Metro scheduled for completion in 2009, as far as the south Delhi link is concerned, the corridor starting from Central Secretariat will terminate at IIT and not go further down Qutub Minar to Mehrauli as was planned earlier.
“Indian National Trust for Art & Cultural Heritage (INTACH) had raised objections about the Metro going elevated after IIT into the heritage area of Qutub Minar and others had also expressed reservations on this count. Accordingly, in a meeting with the Group of Ministers we decided to clear the south Delhi link only upto IIT. This length of the south Delhi corridor was cleared so construction work could at least start here,” she added.
More: cities.expressindia.com