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Delhi Metro Rail News Archives »
A Leab by Delhi Metro (Progress on Vishvavidyala - Jehangirpuri Metro Line)
15, August, 2008
DMRC is all set to complete the Vishvavidyala-Jehangirpuri line a record 10 months ahead of schedule. The 6.36-km stretch, which will ferry 1.51 lakh commuters in two years' time, is expected to be ready by December 2008.
After completion of the Shahdara-Dilshad Garden metro section. Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) seems to be focusing all its energies on the 6.36-kilometre Vishvavidyalaya-Jehangirpuri line, which the corporation is planning to open a record 10 months ahead of schedule. If all goes as planned, the extension - which will ferry over 1.51-lakh commuters by 20111 - will be operational by December 2008.
The new Metro link, which will add five more stations to be existing Line 2 from Central Secretariat to Vishvavidyala, is partly underground until the next station at GTB Nagar, after which the rest of the line will run elevated.
The track laying has started in the tunnels as well as elevated portions, and the corporation is planning to complete this by September this year. All the civil work in the underground section is already complete, and finishing is in progess. Even construction of the elevated sections is progressing at a very fast pace. "We are trying to commission the Vishvavidlaya to Jehangirpuri line by December this year as work is in advanced stages," said Anuj Dayal, DMRC's chief spokesperson.
A different feature of new section is that the elevated stations are all "hanging" from the sides of the bridge. The station design is such that of the 24-metre width, nine metres if a full structure that stands tall in the middle of the road - on the central verge - from the ground level itself.
On the upper levels, the station building extends about 7.5 metres from each side, with no pillars or other support connecting to the ground. So, when it is seen from the road, it appears as if the sides of the building are "hanging" from the central structure.
"The new design has been adopted as it looks more aesthetic and also leaves scope for road widening at any point in the future, which the earlier design seen on Delhi Metro Line 3 did not allow. Furthermore, this does not require demolition or acquisition of any buildings on the road," Dayal explained.
The entries and exits to all stations will be uni-directional, which means that one staircase will be reserved for people to enter while another one on the same side reserved for those exiting. With the ridership expected to incease considerably with Metro Phase II getting operational, this is being done to avoid conflict at the entry points and make the journey smoother.
At congested Azadur, which will become a four-level crossing after completion of this Vishvavidyalaya-Jehangirpuri line, with an underpasss, surface level crossing, flyover and Metro being the topmost layer, DMRC is also planning to develop a shopping mall. Spread across a sprawling 30,000 square metres, the Corporation has roped in a private builder to construct the Azadpur Metro Station on 6,000 sq-m.
The building will have shopping areas on the ground and first floors, while the top two floors will house the concouse and platforms for Delhi Metro. DMRC has applied for change of land-use of remaining land, where a larger mall be being planned.
The new line will add a lot of riders to the existing Line 2, which will be extended until Gurgaon and Badarpur from the other end at Central Secretariat Metro Station. As a estimated 1.51 lak commuters use the additional stretch by 2011, the adarsh nagar metro station is expected to see the maximum commuter load with 37,684 entries/exits daily. The next will be Model Town (34,668), Azadpur (30,867), GTB Nagar (30,405) and Jehangirpuri Metro Station (18,125).
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) also has plans to extend this line further from Jehangirpuri to Badli. This 3.42 km extension with two stations, is presently scheduled for Phase III. But if the portion until Jehangirpuri is commissioned by this year, the extension will also be constructued in Phase II itself. "The DPR for the Badli extension is ready and has been submitted to Delhi Government for approvals. If these come, the line will be finished in Phase II itself," Dayal added.
Delhi Metro Track Records |
| Length |
6.36 km |
| Number of stations: |
5 (four elevated) |
| Stations: |
GTB Nagar, Model Town, Azadpur, Adarsh Nagar & Jehangirpuri |
| Busiest Station |
Adarsh Nagar |
| Expected Commuters(2011) |
1,51,749 entry/exits |
| Set date of completion |
October 2009 |
| Construction started |
November 2005, |
| Deepest point |
15.3 metres under road level (at Kingsway Camp) |
| Highest point |
22 metres (at Azadpur crossing) |
Source: Times of India
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