Delhi: Phase IV of the Delhi Metro project is now under development, but the Supreme Court decided against stopping it because doing so would result in a major cost increase and pave the way for the project’s completion.
Justices B R Gavai and Vikram Nath were hearing a petition that claimed that the underground Metro was much more economically feasible than the elevated Metro.
In their appeal, Dr. P. C. Prasad and Aditya N. Prasad asserted that the removal of more than 11,000 trees for the project would have a significant effect on the ambient air quality in the national capital when pollution reaches ‘critical’ levels.
The highest court noted that substantial development projects like the Metro Rail would benefit billions of people and reduce carbon emissions because fewer cars would be on the road, adding that environmental considerations are also important. The judge also mentioned that trees that had been uprooted could be planted.
The court advised Delhi Metro to proceed with caution when creating new phases.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is getting ready for a significant extension to improve the Metro’s connectivity to the outer suburbs of the National Capital Region with the Phase IV project, which might include up to 11 new interchange stations.
With an allocation of Rs 350 crore in the budget estimate for 2023–2024, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) last month approved an expenditure for the Phase-IV project of Rs 1,000 crore.
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 are the six corridors that make up Delhi Metro Phase 4.
Although the Phase 4 completion date has been set December 2024, it is projected that the project would take a further two years to complete.
