Hiccups caused due to several land acquisition issues may cause the Delhi Metro to miss the 2016 deadline to complete work under the phase-III of construction, especially in the Mukundpur-Shiv Vihar corridor. The problem areas in the longest stretch under construction of the Delhi Metro include a plot of land in Trilokpuri, a depot in Kalindi Kunj, and two plots of private land in Punjabi Bagh and Naraina.
Sources said that Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Managing Director Mangu Singh had written a letter to Delhi Chief Secretary D.M. Spolia on November 11 seeking his intervention in the matter.
As recently as last week, a meeting was held to discuss the plot of land owned by the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) in Trilokpuri where over 100 families, predominantly Muslim, from block-15 of Trilokpuri were to be relocated. The relocation was to accommodate construction of viaducts from the Mukundpur-Shiv Vihar corridor.
The Hindu had earlier reported that the relocation site in Trilokpuri had communal undertones with the area having erupted into riots in October. The move is being opposed by Hindu residents of block 16, 17 and 18, which are located opposite the relocation site. They claim they are against construction of a new block as it is the only ‘green belt’ in the neighbourhood.
Meanwhile, Delhi Metro sources said that DUSIB had identified an alternative land, but there was opposition from some of the area residents. Upon completion, the phase-III of the Delhi Metro will add 140 km to the existing operational network stretching over 190 km.
The Kalindi Kunj area falls under the Janakpuri West–Botanical Garden corridor while the other two plots fall under the Mukundpur-Shiv Vihar corridor.
