Delhi Metro, Railways Clash Over Gauge

The controversy surrounding the choice of gauge for the upcoming mass-rapid transport system in New Delhi has taken a new turn with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, which is executing the project, coming out strongly against the Railways' decision in favour of a broad gauge.

E Sreedharan, managing director of Delhi Metro, said: "We are executing the project, and our board's opinion in favour of standard gauge should have been accepted."

The Railways does not have a financial stake in the project, which is a 50:50 joint venture between the ministry of urban development and the state government.

It had prevailed upon the group of ministers, which had been tasked to resolve the gauge controversy, to go in for broad gauge (1,676 mm), a unique dimension which is only in use in India.

 

However, Delhi Metro a standard gauge (1,435 mm) for the project as that is the most commonly used gauge all over the world.

The urban development ministry had sought legal opinion on who should have the final word on the gauge issue.

The department of legal affairs had returned the file with a recommendation that it was a matter under the jurisdiction of the authority concerned who would operate the railway.

Incidentally, the Railways also sought an opinion on the issue, to which the legal department said since the project was under the Railways Act, the board of Railways should have the final say on all technical issues, including gauge selection.

Sreedharan said, "Even the minister (Nitish Kumar) has said that it is an issue that should be sorted out among the experts. In the case of the metro, Delhi Metro is the appropriate expert body to decide the matter."

Last week, Nitish Kumar said politicians (himself and the state transport minister, Pervez Hashmi) should not involve themselves in technical decisions which are best understood by experts.

Sreedharan said, "The selection of broad gauge would lead to gauge isolation and the cost of the project could go up by as much as Rs 800 crore due to cost over-runs, since the manufacturers would have to go back to the drawing board to re-engineer their products for that gauge. Also, the cost of the rolling-stock would be higher by about Rs 180 crore."