A cash-strapped Delhi government has asked the DDA to foot its share of bills for the Metro railway's third phase of extension.
The state finance minister, A. K. Walia said, the government cannot pay the money because its coffers have dried up.
State finance ministry officials have requested the Union urban development ministry, which is an equal partner with the state in the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), to fund the Metro's third phase of extension.
Metro officials say planning for the expansion, in which they aim to add another 120 km to the existing rail network, is underway.
The state government is worried that its bad financial shape could jeopardise the plans and have shot off a letter to the urban development ministry, requesting it to fully fund the third phase.
The state is supposed to pay nearly Rs 2,677.50 crore over the next few years for this phase, with Rs 558 crore due this fiscal, according to Walia.
It now wants the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), which the urban development ministry controls, to pay its share of the cost.
"We have written to the ministry explaining our financial crunch. We don't have the money required for the job," Walia said. "The DDA is the city's biggest land- owning agency," said Walia. " And each
government usually earns the maximum revenue through land. The DDA should give back to Delhi a share of what it earns out of the city."The DDA has not replied to Walia's letter.
The state is yet to pay nearly Rs 1,417 crore as its share of the expenses towards the construction of nearly 125 km of rail network that was added in Phase Two, a senior finance ministry official said. "All construction going on right now is part of the second phase, which should be complete by September." Expenses on preparing for the Commonwealth Games have punched a hole in the government's pocket, another finance department official said. "That's why we had to levy taxes worth nearly Rs. 800 crore on taxpayers in this year's budget. We are broke, our revenues have dried up," he added.
In the third phase, the DMRC plans a link parallel to the Ring Road from Ghazipur in east Delhi to Dhaula Kuan, and another link from Noida Sector 18 to the National Highway 8, running parallel to the Outer Ring Road.
To be completed by 2015, the network is expected to cost over Rs 30,000 crore.
The state finance minister, A. K. Walia said, the government cannot pay the money because its coffers have dried up.
State finance ministry officials have requested the Union urban development ministry, which is an equal partner with the state in the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), to fund the Metro's third phase of extension.
Metro officials say planning for the expansion, in which they aim to add another 120 km to the existing rail network, is underway.
The state government is worried that its bad financial shape could jeopardise the plans and have shot off a letter to the urban development ministry, requesting it to fully fund the third phase.
The state is supposed to pay nearly Rs 2,677.50 crore over the next few years for this phase, with Rs 558 crore due this fiscal, according to Walia.
It now wants the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), which the urban development ministry controls, to pay its share of the cost.
"We have written to the ministry explaining our financial crunch. We don't have the money required for the job," Walia said. "The DDA is the city's biggest land- owning agency," said Walia. " And each
government usually earns the maximum revenue through land. The DDA should give back to Delhi a share of what it earns out of the city."The DDA has not replied to Walia's letter.
The state is yet to pay nearly Rs 1,417 crore as its share of the expenses towards the construction of nearly 125 km of rail network that was added in Phase Two, a senior finance ministry official said. "All construction going on right now is part of the second phase, which should be complete by September." Expenses on preparing for the Commonwealth Games have punched a hole in the government's pocket, another finance department official said. "That's why we had to levy taxes worth nearly Rs. 800 crore on taxpayers in this year's budget. We are broke, our revenues have dried up," he added.
In the third phase, the DMRC plans a link parallel to the Ring Road from Ghazipur in east Delhi to Dhaula Kuan, and another link from Noida Sector 18 to the National Highway 8, running parallel to the Outer Ring Road.
To be completed by 2015, the network is expected to cost over Rs 30,000 crore.
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