New Delhi: The Union Cabinet has approved a Rs12,015 crore expansion plan for the Delhi Metro, clearing three new corridors to improve connectivity across Central and South Delhi and strengthen links with the domestic airport.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw outlined the funding pattern, saying, “The funding structure will be such that the Central government will bear Rs 1,759 crore, the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi will bear Rs 1,759 crore, and the remaining Rs 5,278 crore will be raised through loans, which will be repaid by DMRC.”
Highlighting the environmental benefits, Vaishnaw said, “33,000 tonnes of CO₂ emission every year will be saved through these corridors.”
The expansion includes three corridors. The R.K. Ashram Marg-Indraprastha section will be an extension of the Botanical Garden-R.K. Ashram Marg corridor, providing Metro connectivity to the redeveloping Central Vista area.
The Aerocity-IGD Airport Terminal-1 and Tughlakabad-Kalindi Kunj sections will extend the Aerocity-Tughlakabad corridor, improving airport connectivity with South Delhi areas such as Saket, Tughlakabad and Kalindi Kunj.
These extensions will span 13 stations, with 10 underground and three elevated.
Vaishnaw said the R.K. Ashram Marg corridor, primarily serving Central government offices and the visitors of Kartavya Bhawan and so this could be referred to as the “Kartavya Bhawan Corridor”.
The expansion is expected to reduce road congestion, lower pollution, and further strengthen the Delhi Metro, which currently carries about 65 lakh passenger journeys daily.
Vaishnaw further also noted that six Delhi Metro projects are currently under construction, including the Aerocity-Tughlakabad, Janakpuri West-R.K. Ashram, Mukundpur-Maujpur, Inderlok-Indraprastha, Lajpat Nagar-Saket G Block and Rithala-Kundli corridors.
