Delhi Metro gets high court notice

ew Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) The Delhi High Court Monday asked the government and the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to file their replies to a petition of south Delhi residents who have objected to plans to construct an elevated rail track in the area.

A division bench headed by Justice Mukul Mudgal asked the authorities to state the reasons for constructing the elevated track, whereas the practice in the world has been to construct the metro underground.

Residents of several south Delhi colonies petitioned the high court seeking a direction to the DMRC to take the underground route for its proposed corridor between Jangpura and Badarpur.

The Residents' Welfare Associations (RWAs) of Greater Kailash, Defence Colony, Lajpat Nagar, Kailash Colony and other localities through which the corridor would pass are concerned that an elevated corridor would adversely impact their neighbourhood, while residents from Jangpura to Kalkaji said the elevated track would threaten the green cover in their areas, besides adding to the noise pollution.

The high court has also asked the DMRC to make a survey for construction of four subways near the historic India Gate, as the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has refused to construct them on the plea these would pose a security threat in the VIP area.

The Delhi Urban Art Commission (DUAC) in an application said that four subways were planned in 1993 but they could not be constructed, as the government did not accord clearance.