Storm water drain at IGI Airport gets Rs 40 crore more (Indian Express 27 April 2010)

The Delhi Cabinet has sanctioned additional funds to the tune of Rs 40 crore for the second phase of a stormwater drain to be built along the periphery of the Indira Gandhi International Airport.
The first phase of the drain was built from the boundary of the airport till the Najafgarh drain. In the second phase, a drain will be made on the periphery of the airport from Mahipalpur Chowk and extended till the Najafgarh drain to address the problem of waterlogging at the airport.
Officials said the cost of the project escalated after the Indian Railways demanded Rs 23 crore as ‘way leave and supervisory charges’ as the drain crosses a railway line. Officials said only 390 metres of the drain falls under the Railways land.
“We are building the drain ourselves and yet the Railways are quoting an exorbitant amount in the name of supervisory charges,” a senior Public Works department engineer said.
The senior official revealed the Railways was quoting the exorbitant amount for the land it acquired from the Delhi Development Authority at the cost of Rs 74 lakh per acre a few months ago.
The stormwater drain earlier crossed villages like Mahipalpur, Rangpuri, Rajokari, Smalkha and Kapashera and flew towards Najafgarh drain through the airport area from Shahbad and Bagdola drain. This had aggravated the problem of waterlogging at the airport and caused disruption in its functioning.
Office near Power stationThe Delhi Cabinet also sanctioned funds for an office complex near the Indraprastha thermal power station in Central Delhi on Monday. The power station was recently decommissioned. The government had earlier given 15 acres of land belonging to the power station to the Delhi Transport Corporation for a bus depot. “This has been decided to ensure optimum utilisation of space,” Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said.