NEW DELHI: In a significant enhancement to Delhi’s infrastructure, the Union Cabinet approved three new Metro corridors on Wednesday. This includes a 9.91-km stretch from RK Ashram Marg to Indraprastha, connecting key locations such as Kartavya Bhavans, India Gate, Bharat Mandapam, and the National War Memorial in Lutyens’ Delhi.
The new Central Vista corridor will provide direct access to office-goers and visitors, benefiting approximately 60,000 daily commuters and 200,000 visitors. This development aims to reduce pollution and reliance on fossil fuels, enhancing the overall quality of life, according to an official statement.
The corridor will feature stations including RK Ashram Marg, Shivaji Stadium, Central Secretariat, Kartavya Bhawan, India Gate, War Memorial-High Court, Baroda House, Bharat Mandapam, and Indraprastha.
Under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Cabinet also approved two additional corridors: Aerocity to Airport Terminal 1 (2.263 km) and Tughlakabad to Kalindi Kunj (3.9 km).
All three new corridors are part of the Delhi Metro’s Phase-V(A) project, which spans 16.076 km and aims to improve connectivity throughout the capital.
The total cost for Phase-V(A) is Rs 12,014.91 crore, funded through the Centre, the Delhi government, and international agencies. “Delhi’s infrastructure gets a major boost! The Cabinet’s approval for three new corridors expands our metro network, thereby enhancing ‘Ease of Living’ and alleviating congestion,” stated Prime Minister Modi on X.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasized that this expansion will add 16 km of Metro line with 13 stations—10 underground and 3 elevated.
The RK Ashram Marg-Indraprastha section will extend the Botanical Garden-RK Ashram Marg corridor, offering Metro access to the redeveloped Central Vista area.
The Aerocity-IGD Airport Terminal 1 and Tughlakabad-Kalindi Kunj sections will extend the Aerocity-Tughlakabad corridor, enhancing airport connectivity to southern regions like Tughlakabad, Saket, and Kalindi Kunj.
Upon completion, the RK Ashram Marg-Indraprastha corridor will improve access between west, north, Old Delhi, and central Delhi. Meanwhile, the new corridors will link south Delhi with IGD Airport Terminal 1 via Saket and Chhatarpur, greatly enhancing connectivity.
“These Metro extensions will expand the Delhi Metro network across central Delhi and to the domestic airport, significantly boosting the economy. These additions to the Magenta and Golden lines will ease road congestion and decrease vehicle pollution,” the government added.
Stations on the Tughlakabad-Kalindi Kunj section will include Sarita Vihar Depot, Madanpur Khadar, and Kalindi Kunj, while the Aerocity station will connect with IGD Terminal 1.
Construction of Phase-IV, encompassing 111 km and 83 stations, is ongoing, with 80.43% of civil work completed on three priority corridors, projected for gradual completion by December 2026.
On average, Delhi Metro serves 6.5 million passengers daily, with a record high of 8.187 million journeys on August 8 this year.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) currently operates 12 Metro lines spanning approximately 395 km and 289 stations in Delhi and the NCR, making it the largest Metro network in India and one of the largest worldwide.
