Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Delhi is set for another major Metro push, with CM Rekha Gupta likely to announce phase V (b), a 97-km expansion with seven corridors and 65 stations aimed at taking the Metro network deeper into outer city areas.The new lines will connect Najafgarh to Nangloi, Central Secretariat to Kishangarh, and extend the network from Samaypur Badli to Narela, bringing the far north on to the Metro map. Other corridors include Kirti Nagar-Palam, Jor Bagh-Mithapur, Shastri Park-Mayur Vihar Phase III and Keshavpuram-Rohini Sec 34, improving links across west, south and east Delhi. The project, currently at planning stage, is set to improve connectivity of localities such as Najafgarh, Narela, Badarpur, Kondli, Geeta Colony and Gandhi Nagar market among others.Gupta said the “ambitious expansion plan” will significantly widen the city’s rapid transit network.The CM said the corridors under phase V (b) will connect several densely populated areas to the Metro grid, offering commuters a faster, safer and more convenient travel option. “The total estimated cost of the project stands at Rs 48,204.56 crore. Of this, the first six corridors account for Rs 43,335 crore, while the seventh corridor is pegged at Rs 4,869.56 crore. The expansion will improve last-mile connectivity, reduce travel time and promote a more sustainable mode of transport. This project will play a key role in ensuring balanced and inclusive urban development across Delhi,” she added. CM said that the Dhansa Bus Stand-Nangloi corridor will be the first corridor of the project and will run from Najafgarh to Nangloi. The 11.9-km stretch will be a fully elevated, independent corridor with nine stations. “Areas such as Naresh Park Extn, Ranhola, Bakkarwala, Baprola, Dichaon Kalan and Najafgarh Extn will be connected. Interchange facilities will be available at Nangloi (Green Line) and Dhansa Bus Stand (Grey Line),” CM said.
The second corridor – Central Secretariat-Kishangarh – will link Central Secretariat to Kishangarh over a distance of 15.9 km. “A major portion of this corridor (13.7km) will be underground. It will have 10 stations – nine underground and one elevated – and will connect key locations such as New Moti Bagh GPRA colonies, RK Puram Sectors 1 and 7, Jawaharlal Nehru University and the Prime Ministers’ Museum. Interchanges will be available at Central Secretariat (Violet, Yellow and Magenta lines), Moti Bagh (Pink Line), RK Puram (Magenta Line) and Kishangarh (Golden Line),” said Gupta. The third corridor – Samaypur Badli-Narela corridor – will extend the existing Line-2 from Samaypur Badli to Narela DDA Sports Complex. “This 12.9-km corridor will be fully elevated and will include eight stations. Interchange facilities will be at Siraspur (Yellow Line) and Narela DDA Sports Complex (Red Line),” said CM. Kirti Nagar-Palam, the fourth corridor, will extend Line-5 to Palam, covering 9.9km. “This route will include both underground and elevated sections, with 8.4km underground and 1.6km elevated. It will have six stations, five underground and one elevated. Interchange points will be available at Mayapuri (Pink Line) and Palam (Magenta Line),” said Gupta. The fifth corridor – Jor Bagh-Mithapur corridor – will be an independent line spanning nearly 17km with both underground and elevated sections. “The corridor will have 12 stations, including seven underground ones,” the CM said. Interchange facilities will be available at Jor Bagh (Yellow Line), Lajpat Nagar (Violet and Pink lines), NSIC Okhla (Magenta Line), Jasola Apollo (Violet Line) and Madanpur Khadar (Golden Line extension). Shastri Park-Mayur Vihar Phase III, the sixth corridor, will be an independent line of 13.2km. “It will include a 9km underground section, with eight stations in total,” she said. Interchange points will include Shastri Park (Red Line), Nirman Vihar (Blue Line) and Trilokpuri (Pink Line). The seventh corridor – Keshavpuram-Rohini Sector 34 – will be a fully elevated line of 16.3km with 12 stations. Interchange facilities are planned at Keshavpuram (Red Line), North Pitampura (Pink Line) and Rohini Sector 34 (Red Line). “Four of these corridors will be taken up as priority projects, with a completion target of 2029,” CM said, adding that the remaining three corridors will be developed in phases thereafter. Gupta has directed Delhi Metro Rail Corporation to prepare and submit revised detailed project reports separately for the priority and non-priority corridors.
