Union cabinet set to decide on delhi metro expansion
‘Centre preparing to give special gift to Delhiites, especially to Metro commuters.’
With the Election Commission expected to announce the schedule for Lok Sabha elections this month, the Union Cabinet is likely to take decisions on various projects, including expansion of Metro lines in Delhi. The last Cabinet meeting of the Narendra Modi government’s current tenure is scheduled to be held on 6 March.
According to sources, in the last Cabinet meet of the current tenure, Delhi is likely to bag several big infrastructure projects, including green light for expansion of the Delhi Metro lines. Also, before the model code of conduct comes into effect, the Modi government is planning to lay down the foundation stone to start the construction on the new Metro lines that are proposed under phase IV.
A source close to the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs told The Sunday Guardian: “The Central government has been preparing to give a special gift to Delhiites, especially to those travelling by Metro. The Modi Cabinet is all set to lay the foundation stone for the construction of Metro lines that are proposed under phase IV of Delhi Metro.”
The phase IV was earlier scheduled to be completed by 2022, but has now been pushed back by two more years. The delay happened when the Delhi government had, in 2016, asked the Delhi finance department to conduct a feasibility study on phase IV.
It was only in October last year that the Delhi government finally agreed to approve phase IV projects in their totality and in its current budget, the Delhi government has allocated Rs 500 crore to initiate construction of phase IV.
As per the expenditure outlay of phase IV Metro projects, the Delhi government will give its share of Rs 9,707 crore out of a total estimated cost of around Rs 46,000 crore.
Under phase VI, the proposed Metro lines include Mukundpur-maujpur (12.54 km), Rithala-narela (21.73 km), Tughlakabadaerocity (20.20 km), Inderlok-indraprastha (12.58km), Lajpat Nagar-saket G Block (7.96km) and Janakpuri (west)-rk Ashram (28.92 km). The phase IV Metro lines will cater to an estimated ridership of 10 lakh people every day.
With an eye on the Lok Sabha polls, the Centre has been taking big decisions to fulfill its promises before the announcement of the general elections. In the previous Cabinet meeting held on 19 February, the Modi Cabinet had approved the Ahmedabad Metro Rail Project Phase II and the Delhi-ghaziabad-meerut corridor of RRTS (regional rapid transit system). It also approved the draft proposal of National Policy on Electronics which is aimed at creating lakhs of jobs, apart from other benefits. Many in the armed forces community, especially in the
IAF, are upset watching some TV channels creating war hysteria. They are also upset over some politicians trying to earn brownie points at the cost of soldiers’ sacrifice.
The wife of a Colonel located somewhere along the Line of Control posted a message on a Whatsapp group of
Army officers’ wives: “We must do something about the TV media covering the whole issue as if a T-20 cricket match is on between India and Pakistan and they have no feelings for the families whose men are in line of action. In such delicate moments, media is fueling the fire.” Another officer’s wife posted her 1.07 minute video on Whatsapp on behalf of the families of all armed forces, and humbly urged fellow Indians, especially political leaders, “not to politicize the sacrifice of our soldiers”. “It takes so much to be a soldier. Imagine the tension and pain the wife of IAF pilot Abhinandan captured by Pakistan is going through right now,” the lady said in an emotionally choked voice.
The armed forces community feels that some rules must be followed by TV channels to cover developments in a professional manner. A retired lieutenant general said, “I do not want our TV channels’ foot soldiers to cross the line as their overzealous coverage can help the enemy…loose lips can sink ships.” Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman’s return home had an extraordinary similarity with Mani Ratnam’s Kaatru Veliyidai, a war movie released in Chennai in
2017. It was about how an IAF pilot Varun Chakrapani, who was captured by the Pakistani army in Rawalpindi and imprisoned as a prisoner of war (POW) during the 1999 Kargil War, escaped and reached India. Strangely, Abhinandan’s father Air Marshal (retired) Simhakutty Varthaman was a consultant in the making of the film. A video of his father speaking at the audio launch of the film in Chennai in 2017 went viral on social media platforms. “As I have many experiences in my life, but I never thought in my wildest dreams that I’d be here in a movie audio release function. It’s a great honour,” Simhakutty Varthaman had said.
“Talking and filming about the Air Force and feeling for the Air Force is something which is perhaps missing on our Indian celluloid. When I heard about Kaatru Veliyidai, I wanted to support the team. The IAF, as well as our entire armed forces, has been fighting a continuous war ever since our Independence,” Simhakutty Varthaman had pointed out.