A GOVERNMENT Minster says criticising spending billions of pounds on Crossrail is a “no brainer.” Transport Minister Sadiq Khan visited Canary Wharf last week to see the progress on the first station now under construction and admitted he was “awestruck” at the scale of the �16 billion project

A GOVERNMENT Minster says criticising spending billions of pounds on Crossrail is a “no brainer.”

Transport Minister Sadiq Khan visited Canary Wharf last week to see the progress on the first station now under construction and admitted he was “awestruck” at the scale of the �16 billion project.

There have been criticism that money would be better spent on the existing London Underground.

INVEST

But investment on the scale of Crossrail was essential now more than ever, Mr Khan insisted.

“All the experts tell you cuts are a bad idea at this time,” he said. “The Government, the Mayor of London and businesses are all in favour of this investment.

“The Tories say if they win the election they’ll review it—that is code for cuts at a time when our infrastructure needs investment.”

The Transport Department has pledged �5.3bn for London’s new super tube’ linking Heathrow airport directly to Tottenham Court Road, Liverpool Street and Whitechapel, where it splits southward to Canary Wharf and North Kent and eastward to Stratford and Essex.

The rest of the finance will come from private investment and planning gain’ charges.