Delhi govt gives nod to third phase of metro construction

To ensure better connectivity, Delhi cabinet today gave in-principle approval to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) for third phase of construction linking the existing stations to new areas via a 'ring road' like framework while asking it to rework some of the routes.

"We have given in-principle approval to three routes suggested by them to be proposed under Phase III. They have been asked to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for the routes," transport minister Arvinder Singh Lovely told reporters in New Delhi.

Sources said that the DMRC had proposed construction of six routes covering 69.57km but the Delhi cabinet at the meeting presided by chief minister Sheila Dikshit has asked the DMRC to consider covering more area to extend the route length to 108.35km.

The three routes-- from Central Secretariat to Red Fort (6.8km), Rajouri Garden to Mukundupur (12.4km) and Jahangir Puri to Badali (3.4km)-- were cleared as suggested by the metro.

However, in the other three routes which would cover Outer and Inner Ring Road like framework proposed by the Metro, the Delhi Cabinet has suggested some amendments asking the DMRC to cover more areas.

The routes on which the metro has been asked to rework are Anand Vihar to Dhaula Kuan to be extended till Rajaouri Garden, Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar via Jamia Nagar, Pitampura, Badli and a few other stations to Noida (44.85km) and Ashok Park to Delhi Gate.

The project is proposed to be funded on equal sharing basis between the state and central governments.

The DMRC plans to start the construction work on Phase-III by the end of 2010 as work on the much-awaited Phase-II, which connects the national capital with its satellite township of Noida, is expected to complete soon.

During the second phase, the DMRC has made its foray into the neighbouring States of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh with its Jehngirpuri-Central Secretariat-Huda City Centre line and the Dwarka-Noida line.