New Delhi: Delhi Metro may boast of
completing projects on schedule, but its Phase-II expansion
that added another 100 km to its network is being undertaken
at an additional cost of over Rs 10,000 crore, an over-run of
117 per cent.
The Phase-II project, under which Delhi got connected
through the new age transport system with its satellite cities
of Noida and Gurgaon, is not yet complete as a small stretch
between Sarita Vihar and Badarpur and the Airport Express Line
is yet to be opened to the public.
The ambitious Phase-II, when completed will connect
124 km through Metro in the national capital. It was planned
to be implemented at a cost of Rs 8,676 crore, but the
revised estimates show that it has more than doubled to Rs
18,894.36 crore.
According to a review by the Ministry of Statistics
and Programme Implementation, the project is being undertaken
at an additional cost of Rs 10,218.36 crore.
"In percentage, the over-run is 117.78 per cent," the
official documents say.
The Phase-II project, sanctioned in 2006, was set to
be completed by June 2010, but the DMRC extended the deadline
by September 2010, the documents said.
However, the Sarita Vihar-Badarpur section and the
Airport Line have not yet been opened to the public due to
non-completion of work on the two corridors.
The DMRC's Phase-I project, covering 65.10 km route,
also resulted in cost escalation.
Delhi Metro had opened most of its corridor under the
Phase-I well before time, but the same cannot be said about
the Phase-II. The Noida, Gurgaon and Badarpur corridors got
delayed at least by two months.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, November 17, 2010, 18:37