Metro worried of Phase-III delay

In January,DMRC had submitted a request to both the Centre and the Delhi government to release funds for preparation of detailed project reports (DPRs) for Phase-III lines. But Metro officials said they are yet to hear from the government.

Meanwhile,the Delhi Economic Survey for the year 2008-09 has proposed six lines that are completely at variance with the seven corridors proposed by Delhi Metro in its masterplan.

Amid the indecision over routes,the funding for the project is also on shaky ground,DMRC officials said.

Delhi Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta told Newsline that a finance committee was formed a couple of months ago to work out the details. “The committee will take at least another four months to come up with its report on funding feasibility,” Mehta said.

According to Metro officials,the delay in getting a green signal from the government over the lines and funding will mean DMRC will get to begin its work on the detailed project reports at the fag end of its Phase-II project. While it will take some time to prepare DPRs and then invite tenders,Metro officials said construction machinery like launching girders and tunnel boring machines might not be easily available after a hiatus.

The DMRC at present uses machinery owned by its contractors,most of whom have international clients. With an increasing demand for metro rail construction machinery across the world,and a shortage of launching girders in the country and tunnel boring machines across all countries,officials fear that contractors might engage their machinery elsewhere unless they are soon awarded contracts for the next phase.

“Once machines go out of the country,getting them back will not only take time but also increase project cost,” a DMRC official said. “It might take up to a year to call in the machinery after the contracts are awarded. This will delay the Phase-III project.”

Metro’s proposed corridors: total 85 km
* Ghazipur-Mayur Vihar Ph-I-Sarai Kale Khan-Nizamuddin station-Moolchand-AIIMS-Bhikaji Cama Place-Dhaula Kuan: 25 km
* Mukundpur-Adarsh
Nagar-Netaji Subhash
Place-Shivaji Park: 9 km
* Noida Sec 18-Kalkaji-Sheikh Sarai-Malviya Nagar-Vasant Kunj-NH8: 23 km
* Ashok Park-Karol Bagh-Pahar Ganj-New Delhi station: 7 km
* Central Secretariat-Barakhamba Road-Delhi
Gate-Kashmere Gate: 7 km
* Shiv Vihar-Yamuna Vihar-Seelampur-Yamuna Bank: 11 km
* Jahangirpuri-Badli: 3 km

Economic Survey’s proposed corridors
* Rithala-Barwala-Bawana
*w Narela-Bawana-Najafgarh-Kakraula
* Mundka-Ghevra-Delhi Border
* Dwarka Sec 6-Shahabad
Mohammadpur
* Jahangirpuri-Dhaula
Kuan-Moolchand-Nehru
Place-Kalindi Kunj
*w Jahangirpuri-Sagarpur