Delhi Metro begins preliminary work on Phase-IV

NEW DELHI: With its Phase-IV project stuck in limbo, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has started doing preliminary work to save time when the actual construction begins.
In December last year, Delhi government had given its approval to the six proposed corridors of the Phase-IV project. The project was approved by the Centre in March this year, but only three out of the six proposed corridors were approved. However, just when it appeared to be getting on track, the Phase-IV project once again become a flashpoint with Delhi government writing to the Centre that it wouldn’t bear the operational losses for the Phase-IV project. The government also refused to accept any liability for the loan to be taken from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
While Delhi government wants the Centre to equally share operational losses, the Centre claims it is contrary to the condition of sanction of the Phase-III of Delhi Metro wherein operational losses are to be borne by the government.
While the project is stuck at the moment with no clarity on the next course of action, DMRC is utilising the time by carrying out some preliminary work. DMRC is expected to start geo-technical surveys and detailed drawings of civil structures in some time. The process is expected to take about six months, after which actual construction will begin.
DMRC has started the process of roping in an outside agency to carry out the design and construction of a large section of the proposed Janakpuri West to RK Ashram Marg corridor of Phase-IV. At nearly 29km of length, this corridor is the longest and one of the most important ones of the Phase-IV project.
Delhi Metro will rope in a private agency to design and construct a section of elevated viaduct, elevated ramp, siding line and ten elevated stations of the corridor. The stations are Keshopur, Paschim Vihar, Peeragarhi, Mangolpuri, West Enclave, Pushpanjali, Deepali Chowk, Madhuban Chowk, Prashant Vihar and North Pitampura.
DMRC will also start utility investigation work soon for the construction of a section of the proposed Tughlaqabad-Delhi Aerocity corridor. The section on which the investigation work will be carried out is between Indira Gandhi Domestic Airport Terminal-1 and Saket.