Metro Phase III: DMRC faces land acquisition hurdles at 3 sites

We are yet to get 100% consent from Trilokpuri residents, says DMRC Chief Secretary

Delhi Metro is yet to cross land acquisition hurdles at three places in the national capital as part of its Phase III construction, DMRC chief Mangu Singh said today.

Construction of the Phase III network, that will add another 140 km to the existing operational network stretching over 190 km, has been going on at full pace in other locations, he said.

Singh, who had earlier written to the then Chief Secretary D M Spolia in this regard, said that a few families in East Delhi's Trilokpuri who will be affected by the under construction corridor, had rejected the offer of rehabilitation.

The other disputed sites include small patches of land at West Delhi areas of Mayapuri and Punjabi Bagh.

"We are yet to get 100 per cent consent from residents there (Trilokpuri). Everyone will have to agree. At Punjabi Bagh the issue is over jhuggis. The Mayapuri site is located beside the railways," he said.

All the three sites fall on the upcoming 58-km-long Mukundpur-Shiv Vihar corridor.

Singh said that the amendments to the Metro Act in 2009 had made the process of formalities, required to launch a line, longer. "Even applying for the safety clearance takes time now."

The Badarpur-Faridabad extension, trial runs for which have already been held, would "hopefully" be thrown open to commuters by the end of this month, he said.