Metro Phase-4: SC orders construction work to begin

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday ordered commencement of construction work on the Delhi Metro’s fourth phase, which is over 100 km long and is estimated to add around 18.6 lakh riders per day, after the Delhi government said it has agreed to give the go-ahead to the project.

The phase-IV of Delhi metro will consist of six corridors — Aerocity to Tughlakabad, Inderlok to Indraprastha, Lajpat Nagar to Saket G Block, Mukundpur to Maujpur, Janakpuri West to R K Ashram and Rithala to Bawana and Narela.

Of the 103.94 km to be constructed, 37.01 km will be underground while around 66.92 km will be elevated. The estimated cost of the project is '46,845 crore. As per Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), its operational network is 343 km with current average daily ridership of nearly 28 lakh.

The Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA), which recently filed a report in the apex court, has said that phase-IV of the metro “will add significantly to the public transport infrastructure in the city. This combined with buses and last-mile connectivity (pedestrian and other facilities) would greatly improve the public transport network in the city and provide options for car-free travel”.

The EPCA report also said that the phase-IV is projected to add “some 18.6 lakh riders per day”.

A bench comprising Justices Arun Mishra and Deepak Gupta was informed by senior advocate Aparajita Singh, assisting the top court as an amicus curiae in pollution matter, that the Delhi government has agreed to give the go-ahead to phase-IV of the Metro.

Additional Solicitor General A.N.S. Nadkarni, appearing for the Centre, said that financial pattern, similar to what was followed in earlier phases of the metro, was there for phase-IV.