Will gherao Delhi CM's residence if AAP govt doesn't approve Delhi Metro Phase IV: BJP MP

BJP MP Udit Raj on Thursday threatened to gherao Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence with his supporters if the AAP government does not give a nod to kickstart Delhi Metro Phase IV.

The MP from Northwest Delhi accused the Delhi government of delaying the project.

"Delhi government is deliberately not starting the work for the Metro Phase IV. Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has been trying to ensure that the city government gives a nod to the project. But the Kejriwal government has been giving excuses and delaying the metro project," Raj alleged as he led a protest at the Master Chandgiram Akhara in Civil Lines against the Delhi government on the issue.

"This protest is just a warning sign. If the Delhi government fails to approve the project in next 10 days, a massive dharna will be organised and we will gherao the residence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal," he said.

Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot on Wednesday said that he has directed the transport commissioner to put up the file of Phase-4 before the Delhi Cabinet immediately and hoped that in the next cabinet meeting, the "good news" will officially be conveyed to Delhiites.

The 104-km-long Metro Phase-4 project was estimated to be completed by 2021 after Delhi government's in-principle approval to it in February 2016. But the Delhi Cabinet is yet to take a final decision on it.

The project, estimated to cost around Rs 53,000 crore, including price of coaches, was stuck due to the AAP dispensation's doubts over financial viability of some of the routes.