Communal twist delays longest Metro corridor in Delhi

The Delhi Metro is set to miss the deadline for its phase-III project. Complications in land acquisition at Trilokpuri, Mayapuri and Punjabi Bagh have delayed the Mukundpur-Shiv Vihar corridor by almost a year. Sources said completion of the 58-km corridor, the longest of all Metro segments in the upcoming phase-III, may be pushed to 2017, which was originally scheduled for December 2016.

While the land acquisition at Mayapuri and Punjabi Bagh has been delayed by lackadaisical attitude of Delhi government's slum department, a communal twist has prevented Delhi Metro from relocating nearly 400 families at Trilokpuri. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has been struggling to occupy land at these locations since 2012, but in vain. This includes a patch of land that has been earmarked for relocation of 108 houses of Block 15 in East Delhi's Trilokpuri that will be affected by the construction of viaducts for the Mukundpur-Shiv Vihar route of phase-III.

As locals rued, the residents of some Hindu-dominated pockets in Trilokpuri have opposed the construction of flats for rehabilitation of people from Block 15 which mostly comprises Muslim population.

DMRC yet to start the rehabilitation work

Officials said the Delhi Metro was given an alternative land in pocket 16, 17 and 18 for rehabilitation of people living in pocket 15 nearly a year ago. But till now the Delhi Metro has not been able to begin the construction of flats. "Ideally the rehabilitation work is carried out by Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB). But to expedite the work, Delhi Metro took up the task of constructing flats. However, DMRC has been facing stiff resistance from the residents of these localities. A majority of them have been opposing the resettlement of Muslims in Hindu-dominated areas," said Dr SK Sazad, a resident of Pocket 15 whose house will be affected due to Metro construction.

According to Delhi Metro, construction of 8 to 10 pillars has been delayed due to land dispute at Trilokpuri. Similarly, three pillars each at Mayapuri and Punjabi Bagh remain to be constructed due to unavailability of land. The DUSIB needs to allot alternative land for relocating 250 shanties at these two locations. A Delhi government official said DUSIB is the nodal agency to rehabilitate the affected people. However, the rehabilitation policy of the government is under revision due to which they are unable to rehabilitate the juggies for the construction of Metro pillars. This case is also pending since 2012.

DMRC officials admitted that delay in land acquisition was hampering the development of phase-III in a big way and if the issue was not resolved soon, it could result in delay of future projects. "The land pockets at Trilokpuri, Mayapuri and Punjabi Bagh are required urgently. Any further delay can create hurdles in achieving deadline for phase-III," DMRC spokesperson Anuj Dayal said.

Earlier, DMRC Managing Director Mangu Singh had sought intervention of Delhi L-G Najeeb Jung and the chief secretary to expedite the land acquisition process. The 58.6-km long Mukundpur-Shiv Vihar corridor will be the longest corridor on Delhi Metro network catering to people in North West, West, South and East Delhi areas. The corridor will have 38 stations. According to Delhi Metro, 68.65 per cent of work has been completed till May 2015. The line is targeted for completion in December 2016.