Title - Phase III: DMRC spars with Archaeological Survey of India

NEW DELHI: Delhi Metro's construction work at Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg is being closely monitored by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).With a verdict from National Monuments Authority (NMA) still awaited, Delhi Metro is not allowed to undertake construction work within 300m of protected monuments that fall on the stretch. DMRC, however, said they were at present only engaged in soil and utility testing and traffic diversions.Delhi Metro has been waiting for a verdict from NMA for almost a year. Preliminary work for their proposed Central Secretariat-Kashmere Gate corridor which goes via several protected monuments included initial investigations like soil testing, utility lines, among other things.But the work had caught the attention of ASI, which termed it unauthorized and issued notice in February at the IP estate police station to stop work. An ASI official said they got a reply to their notice from DMRC saying they had applied to NMA for permission to start work on the corridor.A source, however, said another notice was sent to DMRC after barricades were put up at Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg a week back. Denying they had received any notice, DMRC officials maintained they were not undertaking construction work. "We are only involved with soil-testing and preparatory work at present. Only traffic diversions are in place. We are still waiting for an NOC from NMA,'' said a DMRC official.A source said there was immense pressure to grant NOC to the work under essential services as public utility. The state-level competent authority has given a positive recommendation but the final work can only come from NMA. An NMA official said they were examining the proposal and were holding another meeting with DMRC towards the end of the month.Till then no work can start in the underground corridor running via Janpath, Mandi House, ITO, Dilli Gate, Jama Masjid and Red Fort till the proposal was cleared by NMA.