The Hindu : New Delhi News : Nod for Metro link to Noida by month-end

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 08, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

Nod for Metro link to Noida by month-end

By Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar

NEW DELHI, APRIL 7. After some hiccups, Delhi Metro now seems well and truly headed for Noida and Gurgaon as the Managing Director of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, E. Sreedharan, says he is "very confident and hopeful" that this would happen in Phase II of the project itself, for which clearance is due to come from the Centre later this month.

Talking to The Hindu , Mr Sreedharan said both the extension to Noida and Gurgaon are on the cards but for that to take place Delhi Metro will first "have to go to the borders".

As such he said the approvals of the lines from Indraprastha to New Ashok Nagar in East Delhi and from Central Secretariat to Qutub Minar in South Delhi.

The construction of the Metro lines up to Noida City Centre Sector 32 and Sushant Lok in Gurgaon are targeted for completion by 2009 end, said a confident Mr Sreedharan, adding that while Noida and Gurgaon need assistance from the Government of India, the government is showing earnestness particularly in view of the Commonwealth Games due to be held in Delhi in 2010.

However, the extension into Ghaziabad, which was proposed to connect Shahdara to Loha Mandi, and for which a Detailed Project Report has been finalised by DMRC, has run into "confusion". Mr Sreedharan said Uttar Pradesh officials now want the extension to Ghaziabad from Anand Vihar, where the line will reach from Indraprastha in Phase II of the project.

Since this would bring Ghaziabad in direct link with Connaught Place, the officials now want to explore this option. "In this scenario," Mr Sreedharan said, "it would be best to prepare a DPR for this new option too. We have told them to give clearance for this study as that would help in evaluating the pros and cons of both the options."

However, he said, while the extension to Ghaziabad too is also on the plans thus far. "As there is no financial problem in the way so far, I am sure this route will also come through."

Meanwhile, he said, the DMRC is also conducting studies for planning the best line to provide a connectivity to the Indira Gandhi International Airport.

"The Ministry of Civil Aviation has asked us to suggest the best route and so we had sent a team to study the Hong Kong and Singapore airports which are both connected to the city centre by Metro corridors." Noting that the team had returned this past month, Mr Sreedharan said it would formulate a proper presentation by this month end that would then be presented to the Ministry of Civil Aviation for its views.

"This would help us work out plans for this new line which is also likely to be taken up in Phase II of the project," Mr Sreedharan said.

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