New Delhi: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on December 23 said the launch of Delhi metro would go a long way in easing the traffic congestion in the capital and checking pollution.

Inaugurating the Delhi metro, Vajpayee said running of the underground rail was a long cherished dream of the people, which had been realised today.

Vajpayee pressed a button from the dais and unveiled a plaque to mark the inauguration of the Metro.

Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani, Urban Development Minister Ananth Kumar, Lt Governor Vijay Kapoor, Chief Minister Sheila Dixit and Delhi Metro chairman Madan Lal Khurana also spoke on the occasion.

Before inaugurating the metro, Vajpayee along with Advani also travelled in the train.

"Delhi is the capital of India which is the largest Democracy in the world. The population is growing and the people want provision of basic facilities," the Prime Minister said. The opening of the Delhi metro is the result of co-operation between the Centre and the Delhi government, he said adding "there is co-operation and it should be... but sometimes there is a skirmish between us".

Vajpayee's remarks comes in the wake of the Congress-ruled Delhi government and the Union Urban Development Ministry locked in a tussle over the metro rail.

Congratulating the people of Delhi for the completion of the first phase of the major project, Vajpayee had a word of praise for Japan and Korea for their co-operation.

Stating that India and Japan were celebrating 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties, Vajpayee said when there could be co-operation between India and the foreign countries, there was no reason why similar co-operation should not exist between the Centre and the Delhi government.

The opening of the Delhi metro was an example of international co-operation, he said adding that this had paved the way for more international co-operation in various sectors.

PTI