The Delhi government has released a payment of Rs 415 crore to the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) for the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) project. This decision comes after the Supreme Court warned the Delhi government that if it did not provide the funds within a week, the money allocated by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government for advertisements would be transferred to the RRTS project.
Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot confirmed the payment and stated that the transport department had transferred the amount to the NCRTC. This is the second tranche of funds released by the government, with approximately Rs 80 crore being allocated a few months ago.
The RRTS project aims to construct semi-high-speed rail corridors connecting Delhi to Meerut in Uttar Pradesh, Alwar in Rajasthan, and Panipat in Haryana. The project is being executed by the NCRTC, which is a joint venture between the Central government and the respective states involved.
The Supreme Court acknowledged the budgetary constraints cited by the Delhi government but emphasized that national projects should not be affected by excessive spending on advertisements. The court warned that it would not hesitate to direct the transfer of funds from ad budgets to the RRTS project to ensure its timely completion.
This release of funds by the Delhi government demonstrates its commitment to the RRTS project and its recognition of the importance of efficient transportation infrastructure in the region.
