The proposed extension of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation’s (DMRC) redline, Dilshad Garden to New Bus stand in Ghaziabad, is expected to miss its December 25 deadline for the second time. The extended Redline is expected to be launched in January 2019.

The Uttar Pradesh Government has recently cleared project’s revised detailed project report (DPR). The delay in clearance of the DPR has resulted in file being stuck with the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). According to sources in DMRC, earlier Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) had sought Union Government approval on the project but it was rejected as the revised DPR of the project was not approved by the state government. “But now the revised DPR is approved by state government we expect clearance from Union Government in coming days. After clearance the project is expected to be launched in January 2019,” said an official.

This is for the third time the inauguration of extended redline has been delayed. Earlier, the Redline metro was expected to start from November, then in December and now the GDA officials are expecting in January provided all things go well with the approval from the union Government.

The GDA Chairperson, Kanchan Verma said that the union government will share Rs 234.70 Crore and it will be paid to the DMRC instantly.

“Then the DMRC will decide the date though it is conducting trial run since last two months.  According to the rough estimate 1.39 lakh commuters will travel on this line after it is operational.  The proposed Metro connectivity will not just help Delhi-Ghaziabad commuters skip the congested roads of Uttar Pradesh but also enable faster travel. This will also boost the growth of new residential and commercial properties around the Metro stations,” said Verma.

The project is being developed at a cost of nearly Rs 2,210 crore with about Rs 1,479.6 crore shared between various agencies based on the funding pattern approved by the UP cabinet.