The Hindu : New Delhi News : "Underground tracks are not feasible"

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
ePaper

New Delhi

New Delhi

"Underground tracks are not feasible"

Staff Reporter

Delhi Metro chief defends elevated corridors

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation does not want to put any additional financial burden on the city's taxpayers, which is why it has opted to go for elevated corridors during the second phase of the project.

Having faced severe criticism from environmentalists, city planners and residents for building elevated tracks during Phase II of metro construction, DMRC Managing Director E. Sreedharan on Tuesday clarified that the process of laying underground tracks is financially not feasible.

"We would like to go fully underground, but it costs more and we cannot afford it. We have gone underground wherever we had to," he said on the sidelines of a function organised to mark DMRC Foundation Day.

Mr. Sreedharan, who is credited with steering the organisation towards achieving significant success by completing projects before the deadline, said: "Laying underground tracks will mean putting additional burden on the city's tax payers. We don't want to do that."

He said the city would boast of an efficient metro service by 2021 and expressed optimism that the organisation would meet its deadline before the Commonwealth Games- 2010.

Mr. Sreedharan said he was hopeful that the Games Village would be connected by the Metro before the Games begin. Earlier, appreciating the work done by the Delhi Metro, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said: "DMRC is and should be a role model for other similar projects. It is necessary for us to learn why and how it does not find a stumbling block like other Government projects. Nobody has interfered in their work, Mr. Sreedharan has grown and taken everyone with him."

The Chief Minister acknowledged that the Metro had steered clear of interference.

"There has not been a single scandal at the DMRC and that is something which should be studied."

Ms. Dikshit said both the Centre and the State Governments had shown no reluctance in releasing finances for the DMRC works because of the confidence that they have in the organisation.

The Chief Minister also presented awards to 25 DMRC employees for outstanding performance.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

New Delhi

News Update

Stories in this Section