Ministers of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh

New Delhi, Aug 30 (UNI) In what can be seen as a sign of growing interest shown by the developing countries in the Delhi Metro, senior ministers from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Guatemala today toured the Metro to get a first-hand feel of the system.

While Sri Lankan Minister of Transport Dullas Alahapperuma, travelled from Central Secretariat to Chawri Bazar, and then to Rajiv Chowk and Pragati Maidan stations, Bangladeshi Minister for Communications Maj Gen M A Matin (retd.) travelled from Central Secretariat to Rajiv Chowk and back.

The ministers, who were here to attend a SAARC meeting, seemed highly impressed by the Metro system.

''As a citizen of South Asia, I am proud of your achievement,'' said the Sri Lankan Minister, ''A team from DMRC visited Colombo some time ago and the corporation has suggested a light rapid transit (LRT) system covering 44 km for the city. The first suggested line from Moratuwa Railway Station to Kiribathgoda is 32 km long while the second from Fort to Pelawatte will cover 12 km. A detailed report of the project is yet to be prepared,''the Minister said.

The Bangladeshi minister said the Metro ''speaks for the progress and development'' of India.

Later, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Central American nation Guatemala Gert Rosenthal also visited the Delhi Metro.

DMRC had recently received its first international consultancy assignment for doing a Special Assistance on Project Implementation (SAPI) study for the Jakarta Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) System in Indonesia. Other countries that have shown interest in Delhi Metro include Pakistan, Ireland and Vietnam.

UNI