Delhi Metro connectivity boost for central govt staff, Union Cabinet greenlights three new corridors

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the approval of the three new corridors, saying the decision will give a major boost to the Capital’s infrastructure.

“Delhi’s infrastructure gets a major boost! Cabinet’s approval for three new corridors as part of Delhi Metro’s Phase V(A) Project will expand our capital’s metro network, thus boosting ‘Ease of Living’ and reducing congestion,” PM Modi wrote on X. 

“With several Ministries shifted to Kartavya Bhawan-I and III, officers presently walk nearly 1-3 km daily from Central Secretariat, Patel Chowk, Mandi House, and ITO Metro stations amid increasing traffic congestion. The corridor will ease daily commuting, enhance accessibility, and help reduce traffic, pollution, and fossil-fuel consumption,” a spokesperson for the Central Secretariat Service (CSS) Forum.

The Golden Line, which cuts across south Delhi, is being expanded on both sides now. In the west, a 2.2-km stretch will connect Aerocity to IGI Airport’s Terminal 1, and will boost connectivity of the airport with the southern parts of the national capital in areas such as Tughlakabad, Saket and Kalindi Kunj.

Welcoming the airport link, Anil Chhikara, former deputy commissioner of transport in the Delhi government and a transport expert, said the Metro should be presented as a special package to tourists to help them save money and have a pleasant experience.

In the east, Tughlaqabad will now be linked to Kalindi Kunj by a 3.9-km corridor. The two stations in between are the Sarita Vihar Depot and Madanpur Khadar. Commuters from Noida and Faridabad travelling to Gurugram will also benefit from the Tughlakabad corridor, according to Vaishnaw.

“The Kalindi Kunj-Tughlakabad corridor will see heavy footfall from day one. This will reduce pressure on interchange stations and reduce delays. Metro is a lifeline in Delhi so its medium and last-mile connectivity can shift people from using personal vehicle dependency,” said Chhikara. 

The connectivity to Terminal 1 is also expected to handle the increased number of travellers, with GMR-led Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) opening the revamped Terminal 1 earlier this year, which now has more than double the capacity it had before.

Meanwhile, the status of a proposed station at the Yuge Yugeen Bharat National Museum, which is slated to be developed at North Block and South Block as a part of the Central Vista redevelopment project, remained unclear after Wednesday’s Cabinet approval. 

The station was proposed as a part of the RK Ashram Marg-Indraprastha corridor and the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation had even floated a tender for it earlier this year. 

The map presented by Vaishnaw as a part of his presentation on Wednesday also did not show the Yuge Yugeen Bharat National Museum stations. 

However, the Cabinet press release detailing the decision included a map with the station clearly marked, even though the text of the release did not mention the same. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs did not comment on whether or not the station was approved.