Delhi Metro starts taking over process of Gurgaon Rapid Metro from IL&FS

New Delhi (Urban Transport News): The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has started taking over of operation and maintenance of Gurgaon Rapid Metro from Monday, in accordance with the orders passed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. On September 20, the Punjab and Haryana High Court disposed of two petitions filed by the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) on behalf of Haryana government, challenging a termination notice served to it in July by the IL&FS-led Rapid Metro Gurgaon Limited and Rapid Metro Gurgaon South Limited.

The Haryana government and the Gurgaon Rapid Metro operators are expected to resolve the ongoing dispute by arbitration in the coming weeks including the pending forensic audit of Rapid Metro and the taking over process. Officials said that both parties were able to arrive at a consensus on further proceedings, thus ensuring that the service of Gurgaon Rapid Metro will continue without any hindrances. The Haryana government has set a target to complete the handover process to DMRC latest by October 16, until which time IL&FS will operate the Rapid Metro as per their proposal, which was submitted to the High court earlier this week.

On request of both parties, High court has appointed two retired judges Justice Kailash Gambhir and Justice VK Gupta to supervise the complete handover process as per extant rules. The high court has also considered the Haryana government’s request to appoint the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India for conducting a forensic audit of the accounts of Gurgaon Rapid Metro. Advocate Chetna Mittal, counsel for Haryana government said,

The CAG shall be assisted by auditors of both parties, with further directions that CAG shall submit its report within a period of 30 days, and the scope of the audit will be provided by HMRTC and HUDA.

He also confirmed that the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) and Haryana Mass Rapid Transport Corporation (HMRTC) would pay a combined 80% of the Rapid Metro’s accrued debt to IL&FS as per the terms of the original contract after ascertained by the CAG.