AAP criticises EPCA over its metro expansion report, says it's become Centre's arm

The AAP Wednesday came down heavily on the EPCA for proposing a "pick and choose" expansion of the Delhi Metro and alleged the Supreme Court-appointed pollution control body was acting like an "arm of the Central government".

The Aam Aadmi Party asked as to how the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority is willing to go with the Centre's proposal of beginning work on only three routes of the Metro Phase-IV, despite the city cabinet clearing all the six routes proposed.

"Need of the hour is to expand Delhi Metro and not allow its pick and choose expansion," AAP spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj said.

The AAP's criticism came as the EPCA Monday urged the Supreme Court (SC) to allow work to begin on the three 'priority corridors' so that the city is not "deprived of crucial public transport".

"In view of this whole episode, it appears that EPCA has become an arm of the Central government. The reputation that the chairman of the EPCA Bhure Lal Ji had earned in his lifetime, has come under threat due to this episode," AAP spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj told a press conference.

The EPCA, in its report filed in the SC, has said that the phase-IV is "critical as it will add another 104 km to the network" and "it is designed to join the current network and will densify it and make the system more viable and attractive to commuters."
The report said: "There is a stalemate in the discussions between the Union government and the Delhi government on different financial aspects of the project."
Bhardwaj also wrote a letter to the EPCA chairman Wednesday and requested him to consider the matter again. "I sincerely hope that given the upright image Bhure Lal ji has, he will reconsider his view on this matter."