The Hindu : New Delhi News : Protest against elevated tracks for Delhi Metro

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 13, 2007
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New Delhi

Protest against elevated tracks for Delhi Metro

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: With their demand for scrapping plans to lay elevated Metro Railway tracks in their neighbourhood having borne no fruit, residents of several areas including Defence Colony, East of Kailash and Kailash Colony staged a protest at Sant Nagar crossing here on Monday.

The residents are upset with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation's decision to opt for an elevated stretch in their neighbourhood along the upcoming new Central Secretariat-Badarpur line. They have been pressing the DMRC to extend the underground line from Central Secretariat up to Defence Colony, Kailash Colony and Greater Kailash.

Residents' welfare associations of colonies along the route claimed that the elevated track would affect their privacy and have even petitioned the Prime Minister. Apprehending a sharp increase in noise levels and road congestion, the residents have been pushing for an underground Metro line.

Petitions sent

"We have met the Chief Minister and senior DMRC officials and put forth our concerns, but have met with no success thus far," said a Defence Colony RWA member.

For its part, the DMRC says the cost of going underground for an additional 4.44 km would go up by Rs. 850 crore.

"Of the 4.44 km, 1.5 km will be in hard rock which will make tunnelling difficult and time-consuming. In case this elevated section is to be changed to underground, the project cannot be completed before the 2010 Commonwealth Games," a DMRC official said.

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