"Delhi Government Allocates Rs. 415 Crore to NCRTC for RRTS Project, Announces Kailash Gahlot"

In response to the Supreme Court's recent scrutiny, the Delhi government has expedited the release of Rs 415 crore to the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) for the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) project. The announcement was made by Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot recently.

Earlier in the week, the Supreme Court had reprimanded the Delhi government for its delayed financial support to the RRTS corridors leading to Alwar and Panipat. The court issued a stern warning, indicating that if the outstanding dues were not settled within a week, funds allocated by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government for advertising purposes would be redirected to the RRTS project.

In response to the ultimatum, Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot conveyed, "The payment of Rs. 415 crore has been made to the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) by the transport department today," in a message to PTI.

The initial tranche of funds, amounting to approximately Rs 80 crore, had been released by the government a few months prior.

The RRTS project encompasses the construction of semi-high-speed rail corridors connecting Delhi to Meerut in Uttar Pradesh, Alwar in Rajasthan, and Panipat in Haryana. While acknowledging the budgetary constraints cited by the city government, the Supreme Court underscored the importance of prioritizing national projects over advertising expenses. It cautioned that if funds earmarked for ads were not promptly redirected to the RRTS project, the court would intervene accordingly.

The execution of the RRTS project falls under the purview of the NCRTC, operating as a joint venture between the Central government and the participating states.

BS