Delhi Metro Phase-II to be completed before Games

Work on Metro projects in Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kochi is expected to start shortly.

The second phase of Delhi Metro, covering 125 km and connecting the airport with various points, would be completed before the Commonwealth Games next year, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) Chairman E Sreedharan said.

“The Phase-II of the Metro project will definitely be completed by September next year,” Sreedharan said on the sidelines of an award function here last night.

“We have already opened a 25-km stretch and another 8-km stretch will be opened next week,” he said, adding: “Like this, lines will be opened every month or two. This includes high-speed Metro connections to airport, which will also be ready by September 2010.”

Sreedharan said Metro rail was an environment-friendly transport system. “We were able to reduce up to 280 tonnes of carbon dioxide emission with the first phase of the Metro. Once Phase-II is completed, the figure could go up to 500 tonnes,” he said.

About the total cost of the Metro projects in India, he said so far the money sanctioned by the Centre was Rs 85,000 crore. “This amount is mainly for those projects which are under construction in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Bangalore.”

Work on Metro projects in Hyderabad, Jaipur and Kochi was expected to start shortly, he said without specifying any timeframe.

About the Katra-Quzigund railway project in Kashmir, Sreedharan said: “It is a wonderful project, but going very slowly and facing a lot of problems.”

The Railways had chosen a route that was technically not correct and meeting a lot of problems. Tunnels were collapsing, Sreedharan, also a retired railway engineer, said.

“We suggested a route change, but the railway ministry has not accepted the suggestion. The railway is working as if it is a departmental work and taking a lot of time in decision-making,” he said.

Asked why waterways in India were not utilised, he said the ocean routes were available only for few months in a year. “The internal waterways have not been developed as they require huge investments,” he added.