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Jamia-Delhi Metro row resolved: Residents welcome developmentOT, August 9, 2012 14:25 IST Okhla Times Reporter/Okhla, JMI 
Some residents have heaved a sigh of relief after Indian Express reported that a row between Delhi Metro and Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) over opening of a metro station in the lawn of Jamia Middle School has to some extent been resolved. Fahima Bano said: “I am happy to know that the Delhi Metro is going to mull over the possibility of relocating the station from JMI to somewhere else. University authorities were right in raising the security issue. And residents were with them but at the same time we were worried that in the fight between university authorities and DMRC the project may suffer. Metro is important for the development of the area and hence it is good news that to some extent the dispute has been resolved.” Another resident Shahzad Kha told OKHLA TIMES that it is good news and we are happy that the project will start on time and finish in time. The issue came up for discussion at a meeting that was called by Chief Secretary P K Tripathi on Wednesday. JMI vice chancellor Najeeb Jung and DMRC chief Mangu Singh were present. A DMRC official told the national daily: “The station will not be dropped from the corridor. An alternative will be considered to shift the station 50 metres away from the earlier location. The new location would be finalised on the basis of the feasibility report, which has to be submitted to the Chief Secretary in a week.” It is understood that JMI authorities too have expressed their satisfaction over the development. Earlier, university authorities have urged the Metro officials to relocate the station to Tikona Park. Union minister Salman Khursheed, who resides close to JMI complex, had also opposed the station on the campus. A source said the issue was also discussed at an Iftar party held on Wednesday in which JMI deans and heads participated. The metro station was at the centre of controversy with JMI from the beginning asking the government to have an underground station throughout the university so as to avoid bifurcation of the campus on the narrow Maulana Jauhar road. But the DMRC didn’t accept it saying that it further delay the laying of the lines of the Jamia Nagar station that is part of the nearly 33.5-km Janakpuri West to Kalindi Kunj Metro corridor, according to sources. Jung had also approached then Metro chief E Sreedharan to consider university’s demand. Reports point out that he even raised the issue in a letter written to Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath highlighting the issue. The development had pitched JMI against the residents with local politicians, including MLA Asif Md Khan, expressing displeasure over the whole issue. But things were sorted out after OKHLA TIMES had reported that JMI never opposed the metro project but was against the opening of a station in the lawn of Jamia Middle School. The project is expected to complete in three years time and would link the locality that is home to more than half million people with other prosperous and developed parts of Delhi, opening new opportunities. Post a comment Top News
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