Ghaziabad Metro line's cost won't increase

The Ghaziabad Development Authority Friday said the project cost of 9.41 km Dilshad Garden-New Bus Stand Ghaziabad Metro extension line would not escalate due to delay on account of court litigation.

The litigation has been filed by one of the bidders in the project, said Santosh Kumar Yadav, vice chairman of the Ghaziabad Development Authority.

Earlier, Gammon India Limited, one of the bidders for the project, filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court for which the apex court asked the Delhi High Court to hear the petition.

Gammon India Limited claimed that it had been unfairly barred from the project and its financial bid, in the tender process, was not considered despite being the lowest.

It also claimed that the contract was awarded to a joint venture of Tata Projects Limited and Guangdong Yauntian Engineering Company of China for the proposed 9.71-km Metro extension from Dilshad Garden to New bus-stand in Ghaziabad.

"The case is scheduled for March 4, 2015 and we hope the court will decide it on the same day since the project is of immense importance," Yadav said.

"About a month delay would not have any impact on the project which could not be heard since the judge was on holiday on last hearing."

"The line, which will cater to more than 87,000 commuters over an elevated section on G.T. road, will provide improved connectivity to Delhi for the residents of Shalimar Garden, Lajpat Nagar, Rajendra Nagar, Raj Nagar Extension and Mohan Nagar so the court would definitely consider the importance," he added.