Metro plans six access points for Janpath station

The underground Metro station will have lifts at two entry-exit points,while other four will have escalators leading up to the Janpath Road. One of the lifts can be accessed from in front of Hotel Imperial and the other from MTNL Building — the two are on either sides of the road.

The station can also be accessed from Janpath mini market,Jawahar Vyapar,Western court and NDMC building.

Officials said the entry-exit points have been plotted to ensure reach to maximum catchment area on Janpath.

The Janpath station will economise on space and use as little area as possible. Officials said since it will be a standalone station,without any interchange,it will be on a smaller area as compared to other Metro stations. While Metro stations usually stretch across 300 metres,this one has been accommodated within 250 metres.

The contract for Janpath and Mandi House stations was awarded to Pratibha-CRFG JV on April 20 and preliminary work on the stretch connecting Central Secretariat to Janpath has already begun.

“The station design for Janpath has already been finalised and the contractor has begun preparing for preliminary work,like planning traffic diversions and detailed surveys for soil testing,a mandatory procedure before the tunnelling work begins,” said an official. “Design details for the Mandi House station,which will be an extension of the existing station,are still being worked out.”

The tender cost of the project,which includes design and construction of tunnel between Central Secretariat and Mandi House by cut and cover method,is Rs 467 crore. The total project cost for the 3.2-km stretch is approximately Rs 800 crore. The target completion period for the entire project is three years and the station should be commissioned by the summer of 2014.

The Delhi Metro will soon hold stakeholder meetings with traders at the Janpath mini-market and the other office buildings to discuss the project details. Officials said the stakeholder meetings are usually aimed at explaining what the project will entail during the construction period,such as traffic diversions and shop displacement.

Officials said very few shops in the area will be affected during the construction period,most likely the ones where entry-exit points are planned.

An extension of the standard gauge Badarpur Metro corridor,the Janpath station is expected to decongest the Rajiv Chowk station. Officials said since Connaught Place is also in the catchment area of this station,a large number of commuters will naturally shift here.