In a bid to reduce the rush and crowd especially on the interchange stations, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has redesigned the INA station of the Yellow line as an interchange station with the Pink line. Also, for the first time in the country, Delhi Metro has used the concept of 'Cut and Cover' construction over the existing operation station at 90 degrees distance connecting the operational INA and AIIMS.
Currently INA station is operational in the yellow line, connecting Huda City Centre- Samaypur Badli, but now the station will become one of the largest interchange section of the Pink line covering all the shopping hubs in the South Delhi.
Further, interestingly at one point the trains of both the lines and the concourses will operate on top of each other. The station is being built at a depth of 16 meters below the ground level. The rail level, however, will be at 7 meters depth.
“This will be the first time that a 'Cut & Cover' construction has been done over the existing tunnel in the history of Delhi metro. Also, from the underground station perspective also, this Metro station will be unique as the platform has been constructed above the concourse level for the first time in Metro construction. This implies that the platform is at the first level of this underground station (called basement level 1) while the concourse level has been shifted below the platform at the base level,” said senior DMRC official.
According to officials, if a passenger wants to interchange from the new INA station to the old INA station, then, he has to go down from the platform of the new station to the concourse level and from the concourse he will be connected to the concourse of the old INA station through the common interchange area.
“This was done here because of the height variation between the existing INA station and the upcoming new INA station owing to the already existing Metro tunnel at the location. DMRC had to modify the station design to adjust to the new circumstances. Further, the best part for commuters especially the senior citizens boarding the Pink line at this station would be that getting into the train will take only a few minutes as the escalators and lift from the ground level will directly lead to the platform,” added the official.
The new INA station which will also be known as the shopping corridor has seven entry/exit points that will create a way to reach Aurobindo Marg adjacent to the 'Dilli Haat, laxmi Bai Nagar (West), Kidwai Nagar (East) and GPO complex.
INA falls in the South Delhi is one of the important locations as it is surrounded by the government offices and residential areas and importantly it covers all the prestigious shopping locations such as like Sarojini Nagar, laxmibai Nagar, Dilli Haat and South Extension including part-I and II. The pink line will become the logest line once the entire section from Maljis Park to Shiv Vihar opens. “After the opening of this section, the Majlis Park - lajpat Nagar section will become 29.66 kilometres long and the length of the Operational network will be 296 kilometres.”