Title - Panipat rapid rail link hits ministry hurdle

NEW DELHI: A proposal meant to speed up construction of the NCR's first elevated rapid rail corridor between Delhi and Panipat by avoiding land acquisition hurdles has not gone down well with the highways ministry. While the urban development ministry has proposed that the corridor be built on the median of NH-1 or the green belt along the highway, the highways ministry has pointed out this will make construction of flyovers and underpasses difficult in future.A National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) official accepted that the proposal was made keeping in view the problems faced in land acquisition for infrastructure projects in the NCR, but said, "We are also working on the improvement of the Delhi-Panipat stretch of NH-1. We want the rapid rail work to be in sync with our plan so that we create adequate facilities for both road and rail transport".Regarding the plan, another source said, "They proposed to lay the tracks on pillars on the lines of Delhi Metro. Since the highway runs close to residential and commercial sectors, the urban development ministry felt an elevated rail corridor built above it would be more useful".The highways ministry has now suggested that the urban development ministry acquire land adjacent to the right of way (RoW) - road width under the NHAI - for laying railway tracks so that NHAI's plans are not jeopardized.Traffic on national highways in the NCR has been increasing at the rate of 10-12% per annum, so NHAI would have to build flyovers or underpasses to meet future requirements. The National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB) has been working on a Rs 5,000 crore plan to lay eight rail corridors connecting Delhi and cities in the NCR with high-speed commuter trains.

These would connect Delhi to Meerut via Ghaziabad; Delhi to Alwar via Gurgaon and Rewari; and Delhi to Panipat via Sonepat.

As per the proposal, high speed commuter trains will run at 10-minute intervals. There will be new tracks and new trains while the number of stops will be kept down to ensure faster travel. This will help people who live in different parts of NCR but work in Delhi. In the long run, it will also reduce congestion in the capital.