Delhi to have six new Metro lines

New Delhi: Delhi is expected to get additional 108 km of Metro lines in Phase III with the government suggesting two more lines to the six already planned. While the six new lines will be around 69 km long, the two lines suggested by Delhi government will be 39 km long. The Delhi Metro will now start preparing detailed projects on the two new suggested lines.



The government has suggested an Outer Ring Road route connecting Badli with Sector 18 in Noida through Uttam Nagar, Dhaula Kuan and GK II. Since this line is a completely new proposal, the DMRC will have to prepare a detailed project report of the route.

The other modification suggested is a 7-km link connecting Rajouri Garden to Dhaula Kuan. The Delhi Metro had proposed two corridors -- Rajouri Garden to Mukundpur and Dhaula Kuan to Anand Vihar -- both of which have been approved by the Cabinet, which suggested that both corridors be linked, said the officials .

The government has also asked the DMRC to reconsider the proposed Ashok Park-Delhi Gate corridor as two Metro corridors already run parallel to this and a light rail transit system is being planned on the same route. "We have asked the DMRC to reconsider this route. We feel that this corridor can be avoided as there are lines feeding this area. However, this is only a suggestion and the DMRC can re-examine it," Transport Commissioner and Secretary R K Verma told (Indian Express) Newsline.

The Dwarka Sector 9 to Noida/ Anand Vihar line and Inderlok-Mundka line run parallel to this proposed corridor. But sources said the new line was proposed as this has been identified as a densely populated area with high ridership possibilities.




Though the corridors proposed by the DMRC and the suggestions made by the Transport department were approved by the Cabinet on October 11, the DMRC received the notification on approvals and changes last Wednesday. DMRC Director (Projects) Kumar Keshav said, "We have received the suggestions and are looking into them. A detailed project report has to be done on the new lines suggested by the government."

Sources said that Delhi Metro officials were largely in agreement with the changes proposed. The link from Rajouri Garden to Dhaula Kuan was to be considered at a later stage by DMRC and hence wasn't proposed for the initial Phase III lines. However, with the government insisting that the line be considered, DMRC has been in agreement with the decision.

Meanwhile, geo-technical and topographical surveys are being conducted for the Central Secretariat-ITO and Jahangirpuri-Badli corridors which are expected to be expedited first in line. All the lines, however, have to go through Cabinet approvals once again after the routes are finalised and then through the Group of Ministers, following which the funding will be decided.

Source: The Indian Express

Train kills seven elephants protecting calves on railway track in India

Delhi: Seven elephants were crushed to death by a speeding train in eastern India as the family group desperately tried to shield two calves that had become stuck in the tracks, conservation officials said.



The two baby elephants became trapped as the herd crossed the track in a densely forested part of the northern district of Jalpaiguri, West Bengal, on Wednesday yesterday. Officials had been urging operators to reduce the speed of trains in the region for months.



"Five elephants died immediately on the track while two others succumbed to their injuries on Thursday morning," said Atanu Raha, the chief forest conservator in West Bengal. The area is widely used by elephants as a transit corridor and a number have died after being hit by trains.



The adults had crowded around the trapped calves trying to protect them when they were hit by the goods train, Mr Raha said. The calves were among the dead. Rail traffic was immediately suspended. The surviving members of the herd were still at the scene yesterday morning, watching over the dead and injured, Mr Raha added.



The incident was seen as highlighting the highly social nature of elephants. Females live in tight family groups made up of mothers, daughters, sisters and aunts, led by the eldest. Different female family groups may interact. Males, by contrast, lead mostly solitary lives.



The train involved in the incident was travelling at about 65km/h - nearly twice the speed limit. A television station reported that hundreds of people staged a demonstration near the scene of the accident. A police complaint was lodged against the railway company.



There have been reports in recent weeks of elephants staring down trains that have halted at signals in the region. "They have been seeking revenge for past collisions," one wildlife official told The Times. More than 20 elephants have died in a little over a year in the area.



Earlier this month India's Environment Ministry declared elephants a "national heritage animal" that should be given the same protection as the endangered tiger.

India has up to 33,000 wild elephants and, as their habitats are encroached by humans, and vast swaths of jungle are cleared for mining projects, confrontations are becoming more common.

Source: AFP