NEW DELHI: The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Wednesday, January 4, notified the honourable High Court that the Delhi government is not inclined to contribute towards the payment of unpaid outstanding of arbitral award to Delhi Airport Metro Express Private Ltd (DAMEPL), promoted by Reliance Infrastructure Limited.

The Delhi government has said that it is not inclined to offer Rs.3565.64 crore towards equity for payment of the arbitral amouant with interest, as per the affidavit filed by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).

Before a single-judge bench Yashwant Sharma, the Central government and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, represented by Attorney General R. Venkataramani, said the court that the issue was being actively considered and deliberated by the concerned authorities and that they expected a resolution by January 16. The court listed the matter for the next hearing on January 19.

The Delhi government said that the shareholders cannot be held accountable for payments resulting from disputes or contractual defaults in its statement to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation.

The Metro Rail Corp informed the court that it may obtain funding to cover this liability through the open market, externally aided funds, or a loan from the Government of India.

The court is considering a petition filed by DAMEPL to have the arbitration decision from May 11, 2017, enforced. The line's design, installation, commissioning, operation, and maintenance are covered by a 2008 agreement between DMRC and DAMEPL.

On December 14, 2022, the Supreme Court criticised the Centre for failing to fulfil a Rs 4,500 crore arbitral judgement after Reliance Infra sued the DMRC and said, "We should not repeat again that on one hand, you deliver lectures everywhere that India should be a model arbitration centre."

Hyderabad Metro staff call for strike demanding hike

80% of Delhi's bus fleet will run on electric by 2025: Kejriwal