DMRC to prepare DPR on 7 seven corridors under Phase-4

NEW DELHI: Seeking to make Delhi Metro network bigger than the London Underground, Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath has asked DMRC to prepare Detailed Project Reports for seven possible corridors under the Phase-IV project.

Setting his eyes on increasing the Delhi Metro's network from the current 185 km to 440 km by 2021, Nath said the DPRs would be made ready by the new age transport system in the next 18 months after which the corridors will be firmed up based on ground realities.

While the Phase-III, work on which will start shortly, will cover 103 km, the proposed Phase-IV will be of 104 km and Nath said he has recommended a few more corridors to be added to the Phase-III project for their early completion.

Delhi Metro will prepare DPRs for Yamuna Bank-Loni border (11.97 km), Janakpuri West to Mukundpuri (18.74) km, Mukdundpur to Dilshad Garden (17.54 km), Kirti Nagar-Dwarka Sec-28 (18.7 km), Badarpur to Delhi Aerocity (20.79 km), Lajpat Nagar to Madangir (7.33 km) and Azadpur to R K Ashram (8.30 km), Nath said.

The proposed corridors would link the existing ones through different routes.

Soon after taking over as Urban Development Minister in January this year, Nath said his aim would be to see Delhi Metro grow bigger than the Tube, whose length is a little over 400 km. In May, he asked Delhi Metro chief E Sreedharan to start preparing for the Phase-IV project.

For Delhi Metro to increase its revenue, Nath said it has be allowed to construct one additional floor at select stations on the Phase-III so that they can be rented out to various firms.

"Intensive development on transport corridor is what we are planning. Through this, Delhi Metro can raise money for future projects," he told a press conference here.