Delhi Metro's Badli line, Faridabad extension to be launched by early 2015

NEW DELHI: Delhi Metro's Jahangirpuri to Samaypur Badli corridor extension and Badarpur to Faridabad extension will be launched in early 2015, DMRC MD Mangu Singh said today.

He said the work on Kashmere Gate to ITO 'heritage' corridor will be completed by December, 2015.

"In the first part of 2015, Badli extension and Faridabad extension will surely be launched and towards December Kashmere Gate to ITO work will almost be completed," Singh said on the sidelines of celebrations on the occasion of completion of 12 years of Delhi Metro's operations.

Singh, who wrote a letter to Delhi Chief Secretary DM Spolia last month over land acquisition issues in Phase-III construction, said that work was stuck in few "critical" areas.

"We haven't got small land pockets in three-four areas and are facing issues in critical areas like Trilokpuri, a slum area in Punjabi Bagh, and another one in Narayana. Work cannot progress as long as those are not cleared. But progress is satisfactory at many areas," the DMRC MD said.

He said the ongoing trial runs on the Mandi House to ITO section will take time to complete as the process is being carried out only during night hours, and it will be thrown open for public only once approval for it is granted.

Singh ruled out any increase in tariff stating no 'Fare Fixation Committee' has been formed, which is the only body empowered to take decision on fares.

He hoped that the Phase-IV Detailed Project Report will soon be sanctioned by the government.

"We have prepared the Phase-IV DPR and we want that to be sanctioned and its funding tie-up to be completed so that we can take up Phase-IV work by the time we finish Phase-III work as part of the Urban Development Ministry's plan to decongest Delhi," he said.

Singh said that DMRC is coming up with the technology required to synchronise smart cards so that it can be used in DTC buses as well.

"We are coming up with the infrastructure required for the requisite technology. Now DTC will have to introduce the technology like card readers in their buses. I believe they have also reached an advanced stage in that front," he said.