With the Haryana government likely to give its nod to the Detailed Project Report for a Metro link between Gurgaon and Dwarka, residents of old Gurgaon feel neglected. They have now suggested a new alignment passing through several sectors, the industrial hub and villages in the area.
Led by Senior Commandant (retd.), Central Reserve Police Force, S.R. Yadav, the residents of old Gurgaon have demanded that the proposed Dwarka-Gurgaon Metro link should not ignore old Gurgaon. Mr. Yadav said that they have sent an e-mail to Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar in this regard a week ago and sought an appointment.
Though the Detailed Project Report, which is most likely to be approved after a few changes in alignment, proposes that the Dwarka Sector 21-IFFCO Chowk link pass though Sector 18 and Palam Vihar, the old Gurgaon residents have suggested a new alignment: HUDA City Centre-Subhash Chowk-Sector (34,35,36)- Hero Honda Chowk-Sector 10A-Sector 9A-Sector 4-Sector 5-Sector 23-Gurgaon Railway Station-Dwarka.
“It is a matter of deep concern that all modern facilities are being extended by the administration to new Gurgaon. Old Gurgaon, which has a major portion of the population of Gurgaon, has been meted out a step-motherly treatment and deprived of modern facilities. The most glaring example is the Metro Rail service, which has been provided only to new Gurgaon. Even the Rapid Metro network has remained confined to new Gurgaon, while people in old Gurgaon are suffering enormously and have equal fundamental right to such facilities,” said Mr. Yadav.
A letter written to Mr. Khattar earlier this year read: “...the Metro is a very important means of communication and it has to be provided after due deliberations and consultations with the wide range of people and the representatives of the area...We have consulted a wide range of people, the residents’ welfare associations, colonies and the villagers before suggesting the following route...”
Mr. Yadav said that the route suggested by them covered the entire old Gurgaon, which included several residential sectors, commercial and industrial areas, colonies and villages. He said that the proposed route would benefit a large section of the population and industrial employees in old Gurgaon. “The proposed Metro line would connect several educational institutes, hospitals, the industrial hub and the railway station. It will have huge ridership and be financially viable. The entire route would be over ground with a low cost of construction,” said Mr. Yadav.
Earlier, Union Minister and Gurgaon MP Rao Inderjit Singh had also written to Mr. Khattar suggesting the same route.
In July, the Haryana government had rejected all the three routes suggested by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation in its recent Detailed Project Report (DPR) for an alternative metro link between Delhi and Gurgaon as being “financially unviable”. Two of the routes were the extension of the existing Airport and Dwarka-21 Metro lines, while the third option was to have a stand alone Metro route.
Rejecting the DPR, the Haryana government has asked the DMRC to suggest a route with slight alterations for the extension of the Dwarka Sector 21 Metro line, making it financially viable.
