Metro takes monument-friendly route

Maneesh Pandey / TNN / Jul 7, 2006, 00:53 IST

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The bump in the way of Metro's route between Hauz Khas and Ambedkar Nagar Colony seems to have been smoothened out.

NEW DELHI: The bump in the way of Metro's route between Hauz Khas and Ambedkar Nagar Colony, via Saket, seems to have been smoothened out. The DMRC has presented an alternate plan for the route with slight modifications which should take care of the ASI's concerns that several layers of history may come under the tracks.
Under the new plan, the Metro will not have stations at Hauz Khas and Sarvapriya Vihar.There will be a common station behind Laxman Public School.
Said ASI D-G C Babu Rajeev: "The new plan will not have a station, as proposed earlier, near the Hauz Khas monument. Neither will it have a station at Sarvapriya Vihar. Instead, there will be a new station between the two destinations, which will be far away from the monument."
ASI had raised objections to DMRC's previous plan last month, claiming that the proposed entry and exit points of the Metro at Hauz Khas would not only obstruct Makhdumi Mosque, but would also fall within the regulated zone of two other monuments -- Idgah at Karera and Chor Minar.

The Survey had further said that at Sarvapriya Vihar, the ventilation shafts would be well within the prohibited zone of Vijay Mandal, and at two points, the proposed track allignment would go under Vijay Mandal and Begumpuri Mosque.
However, the new proposed track alignment seems to have got the ASI's green signal. "The ASI may not have any objection to the alternative proposal as the new track alignment will pass from as far as 33-273 metres away from the monuments under discussion, and that too, from as low as 14-20 metres below the ground level," C Babu Rajeev said.

He added that after Green Park, there will be no stations at Hauz Khas or Sarvapriya Vihar. A common station has been proposed behind Laxman Public School. "In the new alignment, the Metro will go completely underground except for a patch near the Qila Rai Pithora wall.
At this point, the Metro track will be about 100-110 metres away from the Wall. Similarly, the track will not not pass under Vijay Mandal and Begumpuri Mosque. Instead, it has been shifted by 34 and 24.5 metres respectively from the two monuments," the ASI D-G said.
Said DMRC spokesperson Anuj Dayal: "We were working on the realignment in view of ASI's objections. We worked out the allignment in consultation with the ASI's Delhi Circle, and this appears to be the best option."
The ASI wants DMRC to be careful while digging towards Qutub as the area has several layers of history. "The area is rich in historical remains and many things, which are not visible on the surface, may get lost in the cut-and-throw process. We would like DMRC to involve ASI, conservation architects, and seek their expertise to salvage archaeological remains," said Babu Rajeev said.
The DMRC seems to have no objection to this, as Dayal said: "If anything of historical value is found, ASI will be involved in the construction process and their expertise will be sought."

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