Vasant Vihar residents have a problem with Metro-III station

On the sidelines of their meeting over the RTR flyover on Wednesday,the association members also discussed with Dikshit the relocation of the proposed Metro station.

“We have been trying to approach the DMRC for over a year to consider an alternative location of the (proposed) Vasant Vihar Metro station. After our protests,we were assured that our suggestions would be considered. Around 20-30 letters have been written to them,but they have not responded to our concerns. So,we approached the Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Union Ministry of Urban Development,” RWA president Gautam Vohra said.

The DMRC said while it’s looking at residents’ suggestions,“the alignment of the corridor does not permit the station to be relocated”.

The RWA raised a red flag over the location of the proposed underground Metro station in May last year,when the Delhi Metro Rail corporation (DMRC) made a presentation to the residents.

The association claims that the site is within residential area and must be shifted. It lies close to F-Block,CBI Colony and Indian Airlines Colony. On September 4,the Metro sub-committee of the RWA had written to Dikshit with the same demand.

The Vasant Vihar station is part of Janakpuri (West)-Kalindi Kunj corridor of Phase-III. Due to the protests,Metro has not given out the contract for construction of the station.

It is proposed on the Munirka Marg — a single carriageway — and the site has residential complexes near it. The RWA suggested that station be shifted on the Outer Ring Road or the Nelson Mandela Marg.

The residents’ association said the land has been earmarked by UD Ministry for general pool residential accommodation,and it would be a violation to construct a Metro station on it. The residents said the area is a green belt at present.

A DMRC official said: “To address the concerns of the RWA,the officials are constantly coordinating with them. A detailed project study was undertaken before finalising the location of the Metro station. The suggestions put forth by the residents to avoid traffic congestion are being considered.”

DMRC said from Janakpuri (West),Vasant Vihar station connects Munirka station that is on Outer Ring Road. Shifting the Vasant Vihar station will reduce the distance between the two,DMRC said. The official said in February,DMRC received a letter from the RWA supporting the Metro station.

Chairperson of the RWA Anusuya Bharadwaj said: “We are not against the Metro station,but we are representing against its inappropriate location. The construction of the station at Munirka Marg will create traffic chaos in the area.”