Delhi: The Delhi Metro is getting its act together following the surprise check by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit who found spitting and littering inside stations, large seepage patches at Rajiv Chowk  and cobwebs in many places.

Maintain standards

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation chief Dr E Sreedharan visited various Metro stations on Monday to check the  cleanliness and  upkeep of the network.

He directed the staff to take strict measures to ensure efficient housekeeping inside and outside the stations
The Chief Minister's visit was followed by a barage of e-mails to her office about Metro and the shortcomings and the general dip in the maintenance levels. Dikshit had expressed her displeasure over the poor cleanliness and maintenance of the Metro stations.

Senior officials said the DMRC chief's inspection drive would continue on regular basis.

The operations officials were on tenterhooks for the past several days as the DMRC chief's visit was expected, as he was on a foreign tour when Dikshit visited the network last month.

Withdrawal of intent

Meanwhile, Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has handed over the feasibility study for an underground tunnel in the city to construction firm Arup, following withdrawal by DMRC, a senior government official said.

DMRC had initially volunteered to do the feasibility study for the tunnel, linking the Haji Ali area of central Mumbai to Nariman Point in south Mumbai.

"DMRC had initially said they would do the study but later withdrew without giving any specific reason. The study has now been handed over to construction firm Arup which will submit the report in two to three months," the official said.

DMRC had started work on the feasibility study earlier this year and it had begun study of geological conditions before withdrawing, the official said.

Alternatives explored

Other options being weighed, apart from the tunnel, is an undersea tunnel or a flyover that will link Haji Ali to south Mumbai helping ease vehicular congestion due to the the Bandra-Worli sea-link bridge, which will be opened later this year.

The proposed flyover, which will pass through Peddar Road in south Mumbai has drawn flak from local residents and environmental groups for its proposed structures on the Girgaum beach.