Title - Sarojini Nagar Metro station hits hurdle

NEW DELHI: Delhi Metro's expansion into the heart of south Delhi's shopping district seems to be coming at a price. The new underground Metro station at Sarojini Nagar, which will provide direct access to the market as well as nearby residential areas like Laxmibai Nagar, will mean the closure of a part of the market near the MCD public convenience as well as the demolition of 32 CPWD flats in the area. Not surprisingly, locals are now objecting to the takeover of the land."We have been very supportive of Delhi Metro's decision to build the station near the market since the beginning. But some months ago, we came to know that a part of the market near the Avenue D park will be closed down during construction. Even the road will be blocked. This will be disastrous as this is in the midst of the market, and the road is important for smooth flow of traffic," said Parmod Kumar, president of the Sarojini Market Shopkeepers Association.The site, which abuts the park, is right along the MCD public convenience, which is down the lane from the new multilevel parking lot. The area also has a parking lot besides the road.Local shopkeepers maintain that the closure of the area along with the road will create a traffic nightmare and also pose a security threat. "The entire area will become a security hazard as we live right above the shops. It is difficult to imagine living above a site built for logistical purposes," said Sanjay Kumar Maini, a shopkeeper who also lives in the market. The blocking of the market area, say locals, will disrupt the traffic plan, displacing hundreds of vehicles that are parked in an already saturated parking lot. "We would like Metro to look for an alternative site," added Kumar.

Incidentally, the Delhi Metro has also asked the ministry of urban development to allow it to demolish 32 flats in the area. These are CPWD flats, which will make way for the underground metro station's entry and exit points.

The residents have already been asked to shift to an alternative accommodation provided by the ministry.

The DMRC spokesperson meanwhile, said the site had been chosen after community interaction. "Two public consultation and community interaction programmes were held which were attended by the local market association/shop owners and residents of the affected flats on May 30 and July 19 in 2011. It had been explained that the site is needed temporarily for logistical reasons," the spokesperson said.

According to the Delhi Metro official, an adjacent space is needed near the Metro station site for construction-related activity. The flats, the official said, were required to be demolished as the entry and exit points as well as the ventilation shafts would come up in that spot. "The area will be restored back as a green area after construction," the official added.

Asked if any alternatives had been discussed with the affected persons, the spokesperson said, "Yes, alternatives were discussed with market association before finalization. Normally, the working area and area for construction depot is required at the end of station site. However, in such an arrangement, around 15-20 permanent shops and some tehbazaris would have been affected for the period of three-four years. With the present arrangement, only 1 or 2, corner shops for a very short duration will be affected."