Arvind Kejriwal led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government on Wednesday (19 December), finally approved the Phase-IV project of the Delhi Metro, reports Press Trust of India.

The approval comes around two-and-a-half years after the AAP government had given an in-principle nod to the 103-km long Phase-IV project, which is expected to be completed by 2024. Elevated roads will also be part of the project.

Among the projects chosen under Phase IV are: Rithala-Bawana-Narela (21.73 km, elevated), Janakpuri West-RK Ashram (28.92 km, 21.18-km elevated ), Mukundpur-Maujpur (12.54 km, elevated), Inderlok-Indraprastha (12.58 km, underground), Aero City-Tughlakabad (20.2 km, 5.58-km elevated), Lajpat Nagar-Saket G Block (7.96 km, 5.89-km elevated).

Sisodia stated that the government would pay its share of Rs 9,707 crore for the project, which costs a total of Rs 45,000 crore. Any operating losses is to be shared between the government and the Centre at a ratio of 50:50. The government will release the funds in instalments till 2023-24.

The Phase-IV project became a tussle between the AAP government and the BJP, as the former delayed the final since February 2016, citing financial un-viability of some corridor.