Day after the Delhi Government’s approval to much awaited Metro pahse -IV, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday blamed each other over delay in the project. Responding to a Vote of Thanks motion by ruling party to congratulate the Delhi Government, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia slammed the BJP, alleging that the party created hurdles in the project.
Sisodia , who also hold the portfolio of Finance Minister alleged fictitious calculation in estimates pointing cost of the Delhi Metro Phase-IV project, which was earlier Rs 57,000 crore and was scaled down to Rs 46,000 crore. “BJP fight to take credit of the Metro Phase-IV, but we fight for the people of Delhi. Based on fictitious calculation, they tried to stall Phase-IV of Metro by hatching conspiracy.”
“Despite the BJP’s conspiracy, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) dispensation cleared the Phase-IV of the Delhi Metro for the benefit of Delhiites,” Sisodia said.
The discussion on metro was started as Leader of Opposition (loP) in assembly Vijender Gupta blamed the AAP government for delaying the project for three years.
Incidentally, the approval of the project was given at cabinet meeting Chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal that came around almost three years after it had given in -principal nod to the Phase - IV project, which is expected to be completed by 2024.
Terming Delhi metro for a ride of high class, Sisodia said that Delhi government will reduce metro fare by 25 to 30 per cent and alleged
“ BJP does not want the fares to come down, the common man is unable to afford Delhi metro services , we (AAP) wants to make it cheap for common masses,” said Deputy CM. Transport minister Kailash Gahlot also countered the opposition’s allegations, saying there were several reasons that led to the project’s delay.
“We were in regular touch with the Centre over it. The files took rounds 4-5 times. Also, the goods and services tax (GST) was introduced that led to recalculations of the estimates,” Gahlot said.