Cabinet nod to 3 Delhi Metro corridors in Phase III (Lead, Superseding earier story)

NEW DELHI - The Delhi government Monday cleared three of the six corridors of Delhi Metro’s Phase III and asked for a detailed project report (DPR) on the other three from the transport department.

A government source said three corridors — Mukundpur-Rajouri Garden, Central Secretariat-Red Fort and Jehangirpuri-Badli — were cleared at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.

Due to differences of opinions, three routes — including the two corridors from Noida Sector 18 in Uttar Pradesh to Janakpuri in west Delhi and Rajouri Garden in west Delhi to Dhaula Kuan in south Delhi — were not finalised. The transport department has been asked to come out with a detailed project report.

The third phase, at a proposed cost of Rs.2,468 crore, is likely to be completed within five years and will have nearly 70 km of track length.

Another government source said that after the clearance, the Phase III plan would go to the Group of Ministers of the union cabinet which will decide on the funding for the construction of the six routes.

The Metro runs a fleet of 129 trains on a network of 138 km that has 117 stations. The average daily ridership on weekdays after the opening of the Jahangirpuri-Huda City Centre (Gurgaon) has crossed the 15 lakh figure.

The Metro’s Airport Express line, likely to be inaugurated by October-end, is the last project in the second phase.