Officials, maintain that the project aimed at giving 32 lakh commuters a smooth ride over a 55-km stretch would be a trend-setter and also set new bench-marks in work culture and standards of construction.

The Delhi MRTS would displace thousands of people in 6,328 jhuggis in 30 jj clusters and dismantle 6,446 authorised and unauthorised structures and 47 places of worship, not to mention tonnes of earth which would be dug up to make place for the project.

Fears have been expressed that such projects are high on cost and low on revenue and won't be viable unless governments give adequate Financial support.

But Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) managing director E Shreedharan, differs saying this is the only mega-scale projectwhere the funding pattern is properly lined up which is an encouraging trend.

A large number of utilities like water pipes, sewerage lines, telephone and electric cables would need to be relocated to facilitate the construction work. Experience has also shown that resource crunch makes the project managements flunder and consequently all deadlines are put on the backburner.