Delhi Govt. suggests DMRC to take loan for Delhi Metro Phase 4 project, despite having fund

New Delhi/Urban Transport News: While the Delhi Metro's Phase IV project corridor has not received clearance from the Delhi Government, the fund crisis has received a new setback. According to sources, the government's treasury has the surplus of more than Rs 5500 crores, but officials are forced to knock on the door of NCR Planning Board (NCRPB) for Metro project expenditure on the instructions of Transport Minister Kailash Gehlot.

According to the rules, the NCR Planning Board can ask the Delhi Government that before seeking loans for the Delhi Metro Phase-4 project, utilise the surplus fund already available with them. Sources reveal that some officers, including the transport commissioner, have talked about one round of NCRB officials. The discussion on this issue is going on with the Finance Department.

Due to the new disaster of the fund, the possibility of starting the work of Delhi Metro Phase 4 project is over, until the completion of Metro Phase-3 in June 2019. Earlier, the Delhi government has written a letter to the Union Housing and Urban Affairs  Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, for fund crisis in the Delhi-Ghaziabad Rapid Rail Transit System (RRTS) corridor. 53 thousand crore budget, only 2500 crore trouble The official looking after the budget of Delhi Government said that the Government will have to pay only Rs.14000 crore for the entire Delhi Metro Phase 4 project in 5 to 6 years.

The annual burden on the Delhi Government will be Rs.2300 crore only. Hence, it is not understandable that why Delhi Government want to hang the Delhi Metro Phase 4 project. Former chief secretary and former finance secretary of Delhi, DM Sapolia said that before going for a loan, the finance department and later the NCR Planning Board can say that if there is money in the budget, then spend it first. If there is money in the treasury then it should be used.

If work started in 2019 then it would be completed by March 2024 In October 2014. the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has already submitted the detailed project report (DPR) of the Phase-4 project covering a length of 103 km in 6 corridors. A cabinet meeting was held 3 times, but in January 2018, the approval of the first 61 km of 3 corridors for an alternative priority was sought. If it approved, the work will start in April 2019 and it would be completed by March 2024. On the construction of the three corridors, Rs. 28, 972 Crore expenditure is estimated, while the cost of Rs 47,375 crore will be spent on 6 corridors.

5.68 lakh passengers will get benefit in 2021 If first 3 corridors will be constructed on time then about 5.68 lakh new passengers of Delhi-NCR will start to use of the metro service from the year 2021. There will be 46 stations including 17 underground constructed in 3 corridors. On Janakpuri, RK Ashram 2.75 lakh passengers will benefit from 2021, 96000 passengers in Mukundpur with Maujpur and about 1.97 lakh passengers will get benefits on Aerocity to Tughlakabad corridor. If we talk about all corridors including interchange stations there will be about 18 lakh passengers will get benefits from the Delhi Metro Phase 4 projects.

15 interchange stations will be built on three corridors The 15 interchange stations will also give speed to the old corridor on the three corridors sought by DMRC for early clearance. The most important section is Mukundpur from Mojpur, which will start the ring metro from the beginning and the entire Delhi will be connected. Mukundpur and Maujpur station will be interchangeable on Mukandpur-Mojpur Corridor.