Officials at Transport for London have confirmed the Metropolitan Line Extension is £50 million short of funding.

The £284 million project is set to connect the Metropolitan Line from Croxley to several new stations across Watford.

The project received £49 million from the previous Mayor of London, but recent cost projections by TfL show that £50 million more will be required before it can progress.

READ MORE: Have plans to extend the Metropolitan Line derailed?

Control of the scheme was moved from Hertfordshire County Council to Transport for London by the DfT in 2015, but there were fresh concerns about the scheme last year when it did not appear in TfL’s latest business plan.

Mayor Sadiq Khan, whose partial fares freeze has forced TfL to find £640 million in savings, insists no more cash will be made available for the project.

In a letter to Conservative London Assembly member Gareth Bacon, TfL’s head of rail investment confirmed the Mayor and TfL are writing to the Department of Transport requesting additional funding.

In the letter he suggests the project can only be continued if the additional funding is found.

In January, the Observer reported that no contractor had been appointed to the main works and TfL said looking into an alternative procurement plan amid the cost concerns.

Watford MP Richard Harrington said he had arranged a meeting with the Mayor of London as the implications for Watford are significant.

If it goes ahead, the extension will divert Metropolitan line trains to serve the existing Watford Junction and Watford High Street stations.

Two new stations will be created at Cassiobridge and Watford Vicarage Road. The existing Watford station will close after the new stations open.

It was hoped the project would be finished in 2020.