2nd Metro link to Gurgaon has to wait more

25 November, 2012

PEOPLE HAVE started doubting the second metro link connecting the Millennium City, which is supposed to give some relief to the commuters coming from Dwarka to Gurgaon's Palam Vihar and Udhyog Vihar,

IT HAS been six months since the Airport Express Line was closed down for repairs, but the service seems far from getting operational in the near future, after the news that Reliance, concessioner of the line, opted out of the agreement on the reports that it was not making profits.

Whatever the reason, it is the commuters who have to suffer in the absence of proper facilities. Currently there is no direct public transport from Dwarka to Gurgaon's Palam Vihar and Udhyog Vihar and commuters have to change sharing autos and buses two to three times to reach their offices.

"Extension to Gurgaon is dependent on the Airport Metro Express. If a new player for the extension comes, managing the line with different concessionaires would be challenging," Mangu Singh, Delhi Metro's managing director told The Times of India.

With the fear of Reliance bowing out of the agreement, Singh agreed that extension is in doubtful state and its not clear when it can be actualized.?”We would prefer if the same concessionaire continues for the extension, though we will go through a transparent international bidding process," Singh added.

Keeping in view the traffic jam, this 12-km extension was approved last year and the stations were approved at Palam Vihar and Maruti Udhyog. And it was believed that it will reduce the travelling time to 15 to 20 minutes.

“Of course people who don't have personal convenience will think twice before joining any office in this part of city," said Divya Juyal. "The link will take a large chunk of the crowd off the Yellow line, as line 2 is called. The link will also provide connectivity to the existing line 2 - at IFFCO Chowk, as well as the Blue line or line 3, as the Dwarka-Noida/Vaishali line is known, at Dwarka Sector 21 station," said an official.