The national Capital will undergo a massive Metro network expansion plan in the next three years with Delhi Metro extending its reach across the length and breadth of the city. Constructions are underway to bring not just the interior but remotely located stations in the National Capital Territory on the map of Delhi Metro.
The new age public transport system, which currently has a network of 190 km will provide connectivity to the unconnected parts of Delhi by adding another 122 km to its network. Apart from shrinking distances between different parts of the city, the next phase will also provide connectivity to arterial stretches such as the Ring Road and the Outer Ring Road.
With a target deadline of 2016, the next phase will have 70 Metro stations and 16 interchange hubs. The interchange stations will facilitate smooth transition between different corridors. The Central Secretariat to Mandi House section on the Central Secretariat to Kashmere Gate corridor, which will be thrown open to public next year, and will herald the next phase pf Delhi Metro. “Tendering process is almost over on all the corridors and the construction work is progressing at a rapid pace. We are optimistic to adhere to the 2016 deadline of the entire phase,” said Mangu Singh, Managing Director of DMRC.
The corridors to be constructed under this phase include 58 km long —Mukundpur to Yamuna Vihar corridor, which will provide connectivity to the Northern, Western and Eastern parts of Delhi. A major portion of this line will run along the arterial Ring Road with stations at South Extension, INA, lajpat Nagar, Ashram, Sri Niwas Puri and others. According to Delhi Metro, 20 per cent of construction work has been completed on the corridor. The second longest corridor of the network will be constructed from Janakpuri West to Botanical Garden (36 km), which will run along the busy Outer Ring Road. With 22 stations, the Janakpuri Corridor will connect Southeastern parts of Delhi with the Western Delhi. The construction work is underway and 10 per cent work has been completed.
Apart from these, Delhi Metro will construct three extensions of the existing corridors as part of this phase. These include extension of the present Violet line (Central Secretariat to Badarpur) from both the ends to Kashmere Gate and Faridabad respectively. The 9.37 km Central Secretariat to Kashmere Gate corridor is aimed to decongest the busy Rajiv Chowk Metro station and will provide connectivity to the places of historical importance such as Jama Masjid, Daryaganj and Red Fort apart from bringing ITO on the Delhi Metro’s map. The line, which is expected to open to public by March, next year is 40 per cent complete. The extension of the Violet line on the other end from Badarpur to YMCA Chowk (13.87 km) in Faridabad will smudge boundaries between Delhi and Faridabad. The construction work is progressing at a rapid pace on the Faridabad corridor and 40 per cent of the work has
been completed.
Apart from this, the present Yellow line (Huda City Centre to Jahangirpuri) will be extended to Badli. The 5 km Jahangirpuri to Badli corridor will have four stations — Jahangirpuri, Shalimar Place, Rohini Sector 18, Badli and will provide connectivity to Outer Ring Road, Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar and Badli enabling commuters to avail inter-State buses and trains. The corridor is 20% complete.