DMRC wants Mangu Singh to stay, sends file to government

NEW DELHI: The tenure of the current Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) chief, Mangu Singh, is set to end on December 31. The file seeking an extension in his service for a year has been sent to Delhi government. A similar approval will be sought from the Union urban development ministry.

The Delhi Metro board is keen to have Singh on board as he spearheaded the phase-III construction, a source said.“We received the file a few months ago from DMRC. However, no decision has been taken yet,“ a senior Delhi government official said.

The decision to grant an extension will be a political one, which is why the file is pending for approval of the Delhi cabinet. Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, in consultation with the transport minister, will review the file,“ the official said. After their decision, central approval would be sought, the official added.

With only two months left of Singh's tenure, DMRC is hoping for an early announcement on the extension, the source said.“The worry is that other decisions--like funding for phaseIV and more trains for the existing network--have been on hold for several months now,“ the source added.

Sources said that Singh's service would not only ensure a smooth commissioning of phase-III, but would also put phase IV on track.

The phase-III construction would add 108km to the existing network. It is expected to be commissioned in the first half of 2017 as it missed its December 2016 deadline.

Singh has been pushing for early completion despite problems of land acquisition and technical challenges holding up construction at several places.

A part of the extension of line 6 -from Central Secretariat to Kashmere Gate -is expected to be commissioned by the end of this year. The approval for phase-IV has also been given by Delhi government, though funding is yet to be allocated.