At present, metro services are already running on the Magenta Line from Botanical Garden to Janakpuri West. Under Phase 4, a new corridor is being built between Janakpuri West and RK Ashram.
After the central government approved Delhi Metro Phase 5-A, public transport in Delhi-NCR is expected to get a major boost. Travel from Noida and Faridabad to Delhi’s IGI Airport will become easier. Commuting from Noida to Gurugram by metro will also be much more convenient. Phase 5-A includes two new metro stretches. One will connect Aerocity to Airport Terminal-1, and the other will run from Tughlakabad to Kalindi Kunj. Both are extensions of the Golden Line, which is currently being built under Phase 4 between Tughlakabad and Aerocity.
Earlier, the plan was to build the Golden Line directly from Tughlakabad to Terminal-1 in Phase 4. Later, the project was limited only up to Aerocity. With the new approval, the line will now be extended further to the airport.
Officials say that work on the 23.6-kilometre Golden Line is already about 65 per cent complete. A total of 15 stations are being constructed along this route. Under Phase 5-A, a 2.3-kilometre underground metro tunnel will be built from Aerocity to Terminal-1, along with a Terminal-1 metro station. This will allow the Golden Line to directly reach the airport.
On the other side, an elevated metro line will be built between Tughlakabad and Kalindi Kunj. Since both these new stretches are short, officials believe that if the tender process moves quickly, the construction could be completed along with the Phase 4 Golden Line.
Aerocity to become a key interchange station
At present, on the Airport Express Line, there is no easy interchange station between Dwarka Sector 21 and New Delhi. With the new plan, Aerocity will become the third major interchange station on this route. This will make travel to South Delhi and many other parts of the capital much easier. Right now, Hauz Khas interchange station is very crowded. Once the Phase 4 and Phase 5 corridors are completed, passenger pressure at Hauz Khas is expected to reduce.
Two metro routes from Noida to the airport
Aerocity–Airport Terminal 1 route: Currently, the Magenta Line directly connects Botanical Garden in Noida to Airport Terminal 1. After Phase 5-A is completed, Noida will get another metro option to reach the airport. Passengers will be able to travel from Botanical Garden to Kalindi Kunj, then change to the Golden Line to reach Aerocity, and from there take the Airport Line to Terminal 3.
Noida to Gurugram in just 45 minutes
Tughlakabad–Kalindi Kunj route: At present, it takes about 77 minutes to travel from Botanical Garden in Noida to Gurugram, usually by changing trains at Hauz Khas and taking the Yellow Line. After Phase 5-A is completed, passengers from Noida will take the Magenta Line from Botanical Garden to Kalindi Kunj, switch to the Golden Line to reach Chhatarpur, and then board the Yellow Line to Gurugram. This journey is expected to take around 45 minutes.
Reaching India Gate will become easier
RK Ashram–Indraprastha corridor: At present, metro services are already running on the Magenta Line from Botanical Garden to Janakpuri West. Under Phase 4, a new corridor is being built between Janakpuri West and RK Ashram. In Phase 5-A, the RK Ashram to Indraprastha stretch will be added as an extension of the Magenta Line. A new India Gate metro station will be built on this route, making it much easier for people to reach the area.
Metro network to cross 500 kilometres
Once Phase 4 and Phase 5-A projects are completed, the Delhi Metro network will stretch beyond 475 kilometres, while the entire NCR metro network will cross 500 kilometres.
The Delhi Metro has completed 23 years of service. Over the years, the network has steadily expanded, making travel simpler, faster and more comfortable for millions of people every day.
