Delhi Metro project to get extended to Ghaziabad

Ghaziabad, April 7 (IANS) The Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) has drawn an ambitious project to extend the Dilshad Garden-Rithala Delhi Metro link to New Bus Stand here in Uttar Pradesh.

The 9.41-km stretch is estimated to cost about Rs.1,591 crore, officials told IANS.

The Akhilesh Yadav government reviewed the proposal in its entirety at a marathon presentation submitted by GDA vice chairman Santosh Yadav to Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Javed Usmani. Although the proposal was in principle agreed to by the preceding Mayawati government, it has been kept pending for over five years.

The Samajwadi Party government is understood to given a fresh green signal to it.

Santosh Yadav told IANS: "I saw the traffic crisis as Ghaziabad district magistrate a few years ago. The traffic condition is deteriorating day by day. I decided to apprise the government of the situation. It asked us to go ahead with it."

He added: "The government has asked us to send a proposal about the mode of funding. We will get down to it at the earliest."

The proposed elevated corridor would have seven stations - Shaheed Nagar, Raj Bagh, Rajendra Nagar, Shyam Park, Mohan Nagar, Arthala and New Bus Stand.

The Dilshad Garden-New Bus Stand metro link is expected to benefit around 100,000 people daily, apart from those from Murad Nagar, Modi Nagar and Meerut who flock daily to New Delhi for livelihood.

A Detailed Project Report (DPR) prepared by the Delhi Metro Rail Corp (DMRC) is with the GDA. The project, once started, would be accomplished in a four-year time, GDA Chief Town Planner S.C. Gaur said.

Of the Rs.1,591 crore the project is likely to cost, Rs.256 crore will be expended by DMRC, Rs.344 crore by the central government and the remaining Rs.991 crore would be contributed by the state government.

The previous government in the state had in April 2011 almost abandoned the extension of the Dilshad Garden line to New Bus Stand for shortage of funds.

Three months later, public outcry compelled the government to announce that the line will be taken till Mohan Nagar. In August, it agreed to take the line to New Bus Stand.

(S.P. Singh can be contacted at spsinghg@gmail.com)