CM Kejriwal left out of Delhi Metro line's inauguration?
Despite a few glitches, the scheduled inauguration of the Delhi Metro's Magenta Line will go ahead as planned. PM Narendra Modi will flag off operations from Botanical Garden (Noida) to Kalkaji Mandir (Delhi) on December 25, in the presence of UP CM Yogi Adityanath. However, the absence of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal from the list of VIP invitees is conspicuous.
All about the new route and the new trains
The Botanical Garden-Kalkaji Mandir route will have seven stations in between: Okhla Bird Sanctuary, Kalindi Kunj, Jasola Vihar-Shaheen Bagh, Okhla Vihar, Jamia Milia Islamia, Sukhdev Vihar and Okhla NSIC. Only Kalkaji Mandir is underground, rest are elevated. The route will cater to Jamia and Amity University. The luxurious trains will have wifi, LED/LCD screens and colorful seats (red/pink/orange/blue).
Delhi, UP shared funding for the project
It is noteworthy that DMRC is a 50:50 partnership between the state government and the urban development ministry, so both UP and Delhi supplied funds and other resources for its construction. Saying passengers' safety is top priority, sources in the CMO commented, "It is for the Urban Development ministry and UP government to answer why Delhi CM was not invited."
A review meeting and likely press meeting before the launch
In 2015, Kejriwal wasn't invited to the opening of the Faridabad-Badarpur extended line either, which was primarily hosted by the Haryana BJP government. Adityanath arrives in Noida today. Review meetings have been planned with the DMRC before the launch. A press meeting is likely after the meeting. Adityanath will then return to Lucknow and come back to Delhi for the inauguration on Monday.
