This, of course, is a compensation package (read barter) that the DMRC is working out for the Northern Railway for taking away a prime piece of land from them. This land (marked as Khasra No. 297 in the 1926-27 Survey of Delhi), opposite the lawyers' chamber in the Tis Hazari Court, has hundred-year-old heritage bungalows of colonial times used by the Northern Railway officers.

Interestingly, the DMRC made a change in its original plan to build the Tis Hazari Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) station on this particular piece of land though the railways has surplus vacant land next to the chosen site.

In the original plan drawn up in April '97, the MRTS station was supposed to come up on the land housing the Tis Hazari lawyers' chambers. To rehabilitate the lawyers' chambers, ``CE/PWD indicated that they have prepared a relocation plan and have proposed to construct five multi-storied blocks to rehabilitate the lawyers.''

But DMRC reportedly changed plan for two second reasons. First, because they expected trouble from the lawyers. Secondly, because the railway hit upon on lucrative alternative. Though it involved demolition of 100-year-old houses of heritage value.

All the Northern Railways wanted in exchange of leasing out the land on the Boulevard Road was ``to get the land use on San Martin Marg changed for residential purpose''. San Martin Marg being on the ridge, it requires twisting the land law, which the DMRC expects the Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit will help them do.

Dikshit is eager to see the MRTS scheme off the ground. She would in all probability extend a helping hand to smoothen the land deals required for the first phase of the MRTS to take off, it was expected.

A rather neat proposal has been drawn up for purpose. It suggests that the displaced ``officers quarters may be constructed on railway land at San Martin Marg and staff quarters at Punjabi Bagh. However, DMRC has submitted that permission for change of land use for the railway land at San Martin Marg will take much time and therefore, railway suggest another location for the officers quarters.''

During meeting with General Manager, Northern Railway, on February 12, it was decided that ``DMRC will construct 10 officers quarters at Ashok Vihar Railway colony. In the mean time DMRC may use its good office to help Northern Railway to get the land use on San Martin Marg changed for residential purpose''.

The proposal was supposed to have been placed before a meeting of the Union Minister of Railways Nitish Kumar, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Minister for Urban Development Ram Jethmalani today. The meeting was postponed because of the Bihar turmoil.