HC seeks govt reply on delay over Delhi rail project

The Delhi High Court today sought the response of Ministry of Railways, AAP government and a civic agency on a former BJP MLA's plea alleging that due to delay in completion of a rail project in Bijwasan here, its cost has escalated from Rs 44 crore to Rs 200 crore.
Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw while issuing notice to the authorities concerned said the officials who are connected to the project will hold a meeting in one month and inform the court about the time required to complete the project.
"Notice to the Delhi government, South Delhi Municipal Corporation and Ministry of Railways. Meeting be called within a period of one month of the concerned officials responsible for completion of the work.

"They should be in a position to tell the court about the definite time by which the Bijwasan Rail Over Bridge and Rail Under Bridge will start functioning," the court said.
It further said that if the project is not completed within the timeframe that they give, the officials concerned will be liable for action.
The court also said that Chief Secretary of the Delhi government will convene a meeting in this regard and all the parties will file their affidavit before October 28.

The court's direction came on a plea filed by former BJP MLA Sat Prakash Rana, who alleged that the project was initiated in 2006 and was to be completed in 2011 at a cost of Rs 44 crore, but it is still unfinished and the project cost has risen to Rs 200 crore.

Advocate Jayant Tripathi, appearing for Rana, contended that due to project delay, it has caused hardship to the people living in the area as they have to take a detour of eight to nine kilometers to go from one side of the track to the other or have to risk life and limb by crossing the railway tracks.
"It is clear that the project was started without any systematic or proper planning, and without acquiring the land necessary for the project. The project further kept on getting delayed due to virtually non-existent inter-departmental co-ordination," the petition has said.