HC asks Centre to reply on Metro project

New Delhi, Jan 2 (UNI) The Delhi High Court today directed Union Government to reply by tomorrow whether a Group of Ministers (GOM) was reviewing the elevated metro project connecting central and south Delhi.

''Tell us the exact situation whether there is a GOM looking into the matter or not. If there is no GOM then we would get to the grips of the matter, otherwise we would wait for its decision,'' the Court asked the counsel for the Government to which she expressed ignorance and sought time to take instruction from the Centre.

A bench comprising Justices T S Thakur and Aruna Suresh while hearing a PIL filed by the residents of the south Delhi colonies directed the Centre to inform the Court about the situation of the metro project tomorrow.

The direction came as the petitioners' counsel contended that a GOM under External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee was reconsidering the elevated metro project connecting Central and South Delhi on the request of Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit.

The proposed corridor would pass through Jangpura, Kailash Colony, Defence Colony, Lajpat Nagar and Greater Kailash.

Residents from these colonies are seeking the Court's direction to stop the construction of the metro line on the ground as the elevated corridor would create noise pollution and intrude on their privacy due to its proximity to their homes.

UNI SNG SP RN1959