New Metro corridor between Delhi’s Janakpuri and RK Ashram, 316 trees to be cleared

“The DMRC must ensure that for all transplanted trees that do not survive, indigenous tree species 15-feet-high and with at least 6-inch diameter are planted in 1:5 ratio,” according to the communication from Kejriwal’s office. The Chief Minister has given his approval for the removal of the trees. Transplantation is to be completed in six months.

The area where the park is located is where the elevated and underground sections of the metro will meet. The 29-km line will connect the Janakpuri West Metro station on the magenta line and the RK Ashram station on the blue line. The Janakpuri-RK Ashram stretch will run through Haiderpur, Sadar Bazar, Azadpur, Bhalswa, Pushpanjali Enclave, Mangolpuri and Paschim Vihar.

Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena had written to the Chief Minister twice in the past three months on projects being “held up for an unreasonable period of time” since they are awaiting permissions for tree felling or transplantation. Delhi metro phase-4 projects had been listed then among those waiting for such approvals, along with the redevelopment of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, phase II of the Dwarka Expressway and the Urban Extension Road-II.