Now, the Government has come forward with this Bill just because the network has to be extended to areas outside Delhi. This purpose can very easily be achieved by having one comprehensive law for this purpose. If you want to set up networks in other States, you could have separate subsidiaries for that purpose. I, therefore, would request the hon. Minister to think of a single and comprehensive legislation which can avoid this necessity of having to come to Parliament with amendment every now and then. The need for metro network cannot be overemphasized. This is needed especially in these days of climate change and global warming. It is the public transport that has to be encouraged and not private transport. Unfortunately, the policy of the Government for a long time has been that more private cars have been allowed to come on to the roads. Metro is the right answer to that problem. Sir, the recommendations of the standing committee on home affairs did not find any place in this bill. Most probably this bill was drafted before the standing committee on home affairs had submitted its report. I hope, in future the government will consider the views and suggestions expressed by this standing committee. Maximum of land utilization takes place under metro network. Metro rail works below the surface. That is very important for India because we have only 2.2 per cent of land with 17 per cent population of the world. Moreover, the urban land is too limited when compared to the people depending on it. Therefore, the pressure on land is too high. Unless we actually make sure that metros operate below the surface, it is not going to work. In many stretches in Delhi, metro rail is going over the surface. That does not really result in optimum land utilization.
