A detailed survey of Delhi will be conducted by engineering consultants RITES Ltd. to check the feasibility for setting up Monorail facilities, said Delhi Transport Minister Ramakant Goswami on Monday while responding to the demands made by several MLAs in the Delhi Assembly for extending this light rail transit system to their constituency.
The discussion began with a question put forth under ‘Starred Questions’ by BJP MLA from Sangam Vihar Dr. S.C.L. Gupta who wanted to know the parameters prescribed by the Government to operate Monorail facilities in different areas in the city. He also asked if Monorail will be introduced in Sangam Vihar to promote tourism in the area. “A Monorail facility should be brought about to link Sangam Vihar to Mehrauli since 20 lakh people use the Mehrauli-Gurgaon Road daily,” he said.
Dr. Gupta’s request then prompted several other MLAs to make similar requests for Monorail in their constituencies. Among them was Mundka MLA Manoj Kumar who asked if a Monorail facility would connect Dwarka Mor to Baprola; and Karawal Nagar MLA Mohan Singh Bisht who said: “Karawal Nagar is one of the most congested areas. Are there any plans to introduce the Monorail there?”
The parameters that were tabled by Mr. Goswami for the Government to operate a Monorail facility include places where neither Metro rail nor bus rapid transit (BRT) services can be provided; in congested roads where the right of way is not enough for either Metro or BRT to be constructed; and where a Monorail system can provide a high-level interchange link with the Metro rail, Railway and BRT networks.
Further, in those corridors where there are sharp turns and thus construction of Metro rail is not feasible since it requires a 300 metre radius as opposed to the Monorail which only requires a 70 metre turning radius, the Minister said the Monorail would be considered. In its written reply, the Government also noted that Monorail is also easier to construct and construction of its corridors is more friendly towards the surrounding population as it allows greater ventilation and natural lighting. Besides, the Monorail rolling stock also does not emit much sound.
