Delhi Capital

Work has already begun on the third phase of the Metro network and the Delhi government has started to finalize the corridors for Phase IV. According to some sources, the government is already considering the corridors suggested by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). A senior official said that “DMRC has identified eight corridors, based on a traffic study done by it. The government will further scrutinize these corridors and recommend options, if needed, before finalizing the alignment.”

The Phase IV network will cover more than 115km and will connect far-flung areas of the city to the existing network. Officials stated that the idea was to connect outer Delhi to the heart of the city in the fourth phase. “While Phase III will make the Metro network denser and bring NCR closer to Delhi; in the fourth phase, we are hoping to connect the corners of the city to the Metro network.”

According to source, a letter stating the corridor alignment and their length was sent to the transport department on November 2, 2011. Some of the corridors, like Lajpat Nagar-Madangir (7.33km) or Mukundpur-Yamuna Vihar-Dilshad Garden (17.54km) will also connect commercial hubs with areas having poor surface connectivity. However, most of the corridors being studied would connect the far corners of Delhi to the city centre. These include the Yamuna Bank-Loni Border (11.97km), Rithala-Bawana (12.50km), Kirti Nagar-Dwarka Sector 28 (18.17km), Azadpur-RK Ashram (8.90km) and Badarpur-Delhi Aerocity/NH8 corridor (20.79km).

There will also be a corridor connecting Janakpuri (west) to Mukundpur (18.74km), both of which are terminating stations for corridors in the third phase. DMRC will be asked to conduct a project report on the corridors describing the alignment of the corridors along with a ridership study by the Delhi government. According to officials, the final network for Phase IV will be decided only after another traffic study is determined and the network’s economic viability vetted. Yamuna Vihar to Shiv Vihar (3km), Dwarka to Najafgarh (5.5km) and Mundka to Tikri Border (6.31km) are the three corridors which are expected to be be included in Phase III.

Metro has definitely made commuting in Delhi much easier and cheaper but with so many commuters using metro; we cannot deny that metros can be very crowded especially during the peak hours. There is good news for everyone as the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has placed an order for 76 more coaches from Bombardier. With the new coaches, the existing trains with six coaches will be converted to eight coaches for trains running from HUDA City Center to Jahangirpuri corridor by this September. By January-February 2013, trains running on the Dwarka Sector 21-Noida/Vaishali line will have eight coaches trains.

H S Anand, director (rolling stock) said that “The new set of 76 coaches is expected to be delivered by April-May 2012. From these, 37 eight-coach trains will be added to the Yellow line by September, when they will be introduced in revenue services.”

Delhi Metro has also placed an order with DMEL, the supplier of ROTEM trains which are running on the Dwarka Sector 21-Noida/Vaishali line and these coaches will be delivered by July 2012. With the arrival of new coaches, trains with four coaches will be converted to six coached and the rest will be put into service as eight-coach train sets and deployed on the Blue line by January-February 2013.

Anand, a Delhi Metro official said that “ Before being put into service, the coaches will be tested over three to four months. “The testing is done not only of the rolling stock but also the signaling, so that when commissioned, the trains run smoothly.”

On an average, some six-seven lakh passengers travel on the two lines and with the addition of new coaches will be able to accommodate more travelers and reducing the rush. At present, the number of coaches in the network is 1,022, of which 538 are Bombardiers.

New Delhi: Delhi Metro’s Japanese connection will be getting a boost, come January. As work on the third phase of the network gathers steam, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will be releasing the first instalment of its loan for the Delhi Metro network next month. Pegged at 53 per cent, the loan from JICA for the Rs 35,242 crore project will form the bulk of funding for Phase III, said sources. It will be used to bankroll the civil work, source rolling stock as well as for acquiring the brand-new signaling system for this phase.

Asenior official said: “The coming through of the first instalment means that the pace of work on the third phase can now be increased. Since JICA loan is 53% of the entire project, it plays an important role in the project planning.” The good news for the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is that with the Central and Delhi governments pitching in with another 21.27%, the onus for getting the rest of the project cost, which is with the DMRC, is not very much.

A source said: “Delhi Metro can raise the rest of the amount, which is not much considering a substantial 70% has already been raised by JICA and the government.”

The first instalment of the 53 per cent loan is around Rs 6,900 crore, said officials. On ground, the coming through of the loan is the signal for Delhi Metro to ramp up its tendering process. The tenders, which are built on JICA funds, need to be vetted by the Japanese agency before they can be awarded. This process has already gotten off the ground, said sources. “The funding will also be used to source rolling stock for the Phase III as well as for the state-of-the-art signaling system that will be introduced in this phase,” added the official.

JICA has so far paid over Rs 16,000 crore for phases I and II. DMRC has paid back a part of the loan for Phase I amounting to Rs 129.55 crore. The interest for the loan amount for both phases have been repaid to the tune of Rs 696.95 crore.

Staff to go to Tokyo varsity. It is not only Japanese funds driving the Delhi Metro, it’s also Japanese technology. DMRC has started sponsoring its employees for higher studies in Metro technology at the University of Tokyo. Set to be implemented from 2012, the two year programme will introduce Delhi Metro assistant managers and managers to Japanese expertise in Metro and its advancements in the field of civil engineering, electrical and electronics engineering. They will also be sent to Japan to learn high speed technology. Delhi Metro already has a course in IIT Delhi for Metro Technology and a training institute in Shastri Park. TNN

News Source : Times of India

New Delhi: The detailed project report of the Dwarka-Najafgarh Metro alignment — touted as Delhi’s first major foray into its semi-urbanized pockets — is ready. The 5.5km line will have four stations: Dwarka, Najafgarh depot, municipal corporation office and Najafgarh station. It will turn left after starting from the existing Dwarka station and cross the Najafgarh drain before following the central verge of Shivaji Road up to the T-junction near the municipal corporation office. It will then turn right near Delhi Gate, go on to the primary rural health training centre and later join Nangloi Road to end at Najafgarh station.

The Delhi government has also approved the detailed project report but it was not part of the phase III plan sent for approval to the Centre. Sources, however, said that with Delhi Metro planning to start work on phase III in stages, the alignment could be added later in the project timeline.

DMRC sources said the line, which is expected to see a ridership of a lakh by 2021 — according to a CRRI report, would provide access to a number of areas that till now had seen little accessibility.

The catchment area includes localities like Najafgarh, Mitraon, Jharoda Kalan, Kair, Dichaon Kalan, Dindarpur extension, Baba Haridas Nagar, Chhawla, Roshanpura, Shyam Vihar, Dharmpura, Sai Baba Enclave, Nangli Sakravati, Arjun Park, Roshan Garden, Shiva Enclave, Todarmal colony, Prem Nagar, New Hira Park, Ajay Park, Nathu Ram Park, Gemini Park, Shiva Enclave, Raghubir Nagar and other colonies.

The project has been a point of disagreement between the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and the Delhi government. The corridor will cover some of the most far-flung areas in the city, which are mostly part of the outer Delhi area. While DMRC had reservations about its viability — a CRRI study predicted that ridership on the line would be much lower than other lines forming phase III — political will had ensured that the alignment was part of the Metro expansion.

News Source : Times of India

New Delhi: The Phase III of Delhi Metro, covering 108km of the city, will be going through some of the most congested localities in Delhi. A nightmare in the making for residents living along the alignment? Not really. Unlike in the past, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) this time has gone in for a judicious mix of underground and elevated corridors — a far cry from its stance in the previous phases where it proffered to go elevated. The two main corridors of the third phase, Janakpuri (west) to Botanical Gardens and Mukundpur to Yamuna Vihar, are aligned along the Outer and Inner Ring Roads, making their way through highly congested localities. Officials say that with DMRC opting to go underground in the most crowded parts of the corridors, the construction is expected to be easier than in the two previous phases.

A senior DMRC official, explaining the decision to have more than 50% of the alignment in the south Delhi corridor below the ground, said: “This line will be going through areas that are highly congested. Heavy traffic and the presence of flyovers and underpasses made us rethink the strategy to have elevated corridors here.”

Officials say that while elevated stretches make more economic sense as they are comparatively less expensive, the stretches also require far more space to work in. The official said: “Piers need to go deeper underground when the elevated stretch goes above the road and a flyover. In such an area, going underground makes more techno-economic sense.”

For residents, the decision is a welcome one. Over the years, Delhi Metro has been under fire for opting to go overground even in the localities that had congested or arterial roads, like the Moolchand stretch. In many localities, the tall piers of the elevated corridor marred the landscape, said residents. DMRC is expecting the alignment for the third phase to get more appreciation. “Better technology is available now, so the decision to go underground is easier,” admitted the official. The preference of the Delhi Metro head, E Sreedharan, for elevated corridors — as these are economically more viable — is well known in the Metro circle.

News Source : Times of India

New Delhi: The third phase of the Delhi Metro, which will connect Mukundpur with Yamuna Vihar, will throw up a number of firsts. At 55.69km, it will be the longest alignment on the Metro network and will have around 10 interchange stations — the most so far. Its two stations, Hazrat Nizamuddin and Mayur Vihar Phase I, will be over 4.5km apart — the longest stretch on the network. And to top it all, a new station will be constructed above the existing Mayur Vihar I station to integrate the two lines.

A Delhi Metro Rail Corporation spokesperson said, “The stretch between the two stations will be the longest on the entire network. It will be built on a bridge spanning the Yamuna.”

The Hazrat Nizamuddin station, which will be underground, will provide easy access to the nearby Nizamuddin railway station. However, Delhi Metro officials said full integration with the station will not be carried out and only an access point will be provided, much like the one at New Delhi railway station.

At the other end, the line will integrate with the Mayur Vihar Phase I station. And as part of this integration, a new station will be constructed above the existing one. The corridor will arch over towards Trilokpuri, going over the present Dwarka-Noida alignment.

Officials admit the 4.5km stretch from Hazrat Nizamuddin to Mayur Vihar will be another challenging piece of engineering in the Metro project. The official said, “We plan to use segmental launching technology, which was also used for the bridge after Yamuna Bank station on the Dwarka-Noida corridor.” The bridge will span 602.8m across the river. According to officials, this technology involves pulling up segments using launchers.

DMRC officials say that the pillars, or piers as they are called, will be anchored in the riverbed.

“These will be built using well foundation technology that will enable the groundwater to recharge as well as rainwater harvesting,” added the official.

On the piers, metallic strips with gauge marks will also be put up to indicate the flood level. The stretch will run between the Delhi-Noida toll road and Nizamuddin flyover, over the Zone ‘O’ of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA).

Incidentally, the zone has strict building norms, with the DDA refusing non-green projects in the area in the past. But Delhi Metro officials said that permission wasn’t expected to be a problem, as transport solutions were allowed under the current norm in the zone.

The Hazrat Nizamuddin and Mayur Vihar Phase I stations are expected to cater to residents of a large number of nearby colonies, including Nizamuddin East, passengers coming from the Nizamuddin railway station and Sarai Kale Khan ISBT, apart from Mayur Vihar, Pratap Nagar, Patparganj, Shashi Garden, Maharaja Agarsen College and Acharya Niketan.

News Source : Times of India

The Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA) has planned for a major road network and Metro connectivity to connect Noida, Delhi and Ghaziabad. The DMRC (Delhi Metro Rail Corporation) has approved a 28km-long Noida-Greater Noida Metro line, which is expected to be completed by 2014. The daily passenger traffic is expected to be around 65,000.

In addition, a plan to network six major roads has also been finalized. There is also a plan to connect the Noida-Greater Noida Metro line to Noida Extension in Phase III. As per plan, Noida-Boraki track will link to Sector 32 via Sectors 50 and 71; this alignment is yet to be finalized.

Rama Raman, the chief executive officer of GNIDA, says: “We have planned to extend the existing Delhi-Noida Metro link to connect to Delhi and the NCR. For this a detailed project report (DPR) has been approved. We are now approaching financial institutions for viability gap funds and tax exemptions. GNIDA has appointed the DMRC as a consultant to get clearances from the departments concerned.”

According to the plan, 19 stations have been proposed along the 28km-long Noida-Greater Noida Metro link, which will costs around Rs 5,000 crore. Soil testing for the project is expected to begin soon. To connect the twin cities to all the other NCR cities like Ghaziabad, Gurgaon and Faridabad, the Noida-Greater Noida authority has made a proposal for a chain of connectivity, which was put up before the DMRC. As part of the chain of connectivity plan, the authorities have proposed two new Metro links which cover all the major areas of Delhi and the NCR. Under the new Metro Link 1, existing Metro terminal at Sector 32 (City Centre) will be extended up to Sector 62 and further connect Ghazipur (Delhi). This new Metro link will cover Ghazipur, Kalyanpuri, Mayur Vihar Phase1, Sarai Kale Khan, Moolchand, AIIMS, and Bhikaji Kama Place.

Through the new Metro Link 2, Sector 18 will be extended up to NH-8. It will cover AIIMS, Okhla, Nehru Place, Malviya Nagar, and Vasant Kunj. This will further connect to Gurgaon and Faridabad via Central Secretariat and Badarpur. In addition, this Metro project is to be implemented in Ghaziabad in three phases. The first link to Vaishali is already operational. The 2.52km-long Vaishali track is connected to Anand Vihar, which directly links to Rajiv Chowk via Vikas Marg. This route (Anand Vihar-Vaishali) will go up to Indirapuram, which connects to Noida Sector 32 via Sector 62.

The extension of Vaishali-Indirapuram Metro route comes under Phase 2. For this, DMRC and Ghaziabad Development Authority’s survey work has been completed. The Vaishali-Indirapuram line will further link to Mehrauli via Noida Crossing 62, CISF, Pratap Vihar, Dundahera and Shahapur in Phase 2. The length of this line is 16km. The total travel time to Rajiv Chowk is 35 minutes. In Phase 3, the Metro line will connect the bus stand of Ghaziabad to ISBT (Kashmiri Gate). The length of this line will be 12km. It will cost around Rs 1800 crore.

Authorities of Noida-Greater Noida and Ghaziabad entered a new phase of intense planning and implementation to improve of city-level infrastructure. In Ghaziabad, 17 flyovers including three clovers leafs have been planned to be built in the next five years. A MoU has been signed with the UP State Bridge Corporation Limited (which made the AIIMS and the Dhaula Kuan flyover in Delhi) for five flyovers, including a clover leaf at Meerut Road crossing. This will be followed by a Metro plan, for a whole network and not merely a token presence. The city will benefit from the six-eight lane expressway linking Delhi to Meerut, Hapur, and Bulandshahr. These expressways, as well as the Delhi Metro peripheric (planned on the lines of the Paris peripheric), will touch the new developments in Ghaziabad. The city is slated to have multiple projects like a number of shopping malls, multiplexes, residential and commercial developments.

Like Noida authority and GNIDA, GDA’s proposal of an express highway linking Meerut Crossing to NH-24 will create integrated flyovers at all level crossings. In addition, the Delhi Metro service, the Northern Railway project (Integrated Railway-Bus Transport System) will make commuting easy between Ghaziabad and Delhi.

Under the major roads networking plan, a 130-meter wide and 28km-long road from Parthala to Jewar, a 105-meter wide and 23km long road from Pari Chowk to Hapur, a 60-meter wide and 12km long road from Noor Nagar to LG Chowk and another 60-meter wide and 18km long road from Saini to Kuri Kheda will be constructed by 2013. All these will be linked to Noida-Greater Noida Extension, the existing expressway and the proposed Eastern Peripheral.
Proposed Metro stations in Greater Noida

City Centre (Sector 32), Sector 51, Sector 50, Sector 78, Sector 101, Sector 81, Dadri Road, Sector 83, Sector 137, Sector 143, Sector 147, Sector 144, Sector 153, Sector 149, Knowledge Park2, Knowledge Park 2, Pari Chowk, Alpha 1, Alpha 2 and Boraki (Depot Station)
Daily commuters: 65,000 Major road networking plan
30-meter wide and 28km long: Parthala to Jewar
105-meter wide and 23km long: Pari Chowk to Hapur
60-meter wide and 12km long: Noor Nagar to LG Chowk
60-meter wide and 18km long: Saini to Kuri Kheda

News Source : Times of India

New Delhi: The alignment of phase III of the Delhi Metro will see the Metro take an entire circle around the city, much like the surface Ring Road in Delhi. According to senior Delhi government sources, the alignment of the 105km phase III network is ready, with suggestions given by the government having been incorporated. “The inprinciple approval has already been given. We’ve been informed that the alignment is ready, and that the Delhi Metro is now deciding on the stations and their locations in the areas the Metro would pass through.”

Sources in the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) confirmed that the redesigned alignment had been decided, with the Yamuna Vihar-Mukundpur corridor being the longest one. In fact, when completed, this corridor will be the longest line in the entire Delhi Metro network, covering 55.9km. The Yamuna Vihar-Mukundpur corridor will have major stations at Mukundpur, Rajouri Garden — which will also be an interchange station — Dhaula Kuan, Anand Vihar — yet another interchange station — culminating in Yamuna Vihar. Said an official, “This corridor is like a ring around the city, much like the inner Ring Road. Correspondingly, the Kalindi Kunj-Janakpuri (west) corridor will be paralleling the outer Ring Road.”

The Kalindi Kunj-Janakpuri (west) corridor in fact, is the only other line that will be entirely separate from the existing network. The other two corridors that are being planned for phase III – within Delhi – are extensions of line 2 (Jehangirpuri-HUDA city centre) and line 6 (Central Secretariat-Badarpur). While the former will be extended till Badli, the latter will be extended through ITO-Delhi Gate and on to Kashmere Gate. The network, with 23 interchanging stations, is expected to start off from April this year. “It will be a mix of elevated-underground stretches, with the extension of the line 6 (Central Secretariat-Badarpur) being mostly underground,” added the source. All the corridors will be on standard gauge.

Funding, however, remains a knotty affair. Sources in the government confirmed that funding has not been decided yet, though DMRC will be hoping that the majority of the funding comes from the state and Central government. The cost of the network in Delhi is Rs 28,000 crore. Said a senior government official, “A number of infrastructure projects are to be undertaken by the state government too. So we have to allocate the funding in such a way that funds for our projects are also available.” According to sources, the last large infusion of funds to the state government from the Centre had been for the Commonwealth Games. “But thereafter, funding has been limited. Even last year, we got little from the Central government. So parity in funding for the Metro as well as our projects is needed,” added the official.

News Source : Times of India

Under a major Metro connectivity and traffic-free plan, Noida Metro link will directly connect to Kalindi Kunj. If all things go according to plan, Metro connectivity between Noida and South Delhi areas like Kalkaji, Malviya Nagar, Nehru Place, Green Park and Vasant Kunj will come to fruition. As of now, passengers have to take the Noida-Dwarka route and get down at Rajiv Chowk station to change lines. Experts believe this plan will appreciate real estate markets of Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad.

For Metro connectivity, the Noida authority’s board has already given a formal sanction to a 3.76km Metro route between Noida’s Botanical Garden and Kalindi Kunj near Sarita Vihar in the recently held board’s meeting. According to Mohinder Singh, chairman of Noida authority, the proposed Metro line will be a part of the DMRC’s larger plan to link Jahangirpuri and Kalindi Kunj. Noida authority and DMRC officials are scheduled to sit together soon to decide upon the alignments.

The new Metro link will also be a part of DMRC’s Phase III expansion plan, which will now cover 105km, instead of the proposed 70km earlier, to enter areas like Faridabad and Noida.
In addition, Noida will also be floating the tender for the extension of the Metro line from Noida City Centre to Badoki in Greater Noida. The entire line has been pegged at Rs 5,000 crore, which will be borne by the executor. This route will have 22 stations, 13 of which will be in Noida.

Rama Raman, CEO of Noida-Greater Noida authority, says that once the project is completed, it will be easy to move from Delhi to Noida-Greater Noida and Ghaziabad, as the authority has designed major road networking in addition to the Metro link.

The connectivity to the national capital and the NCR will get enhanced after the existing Delhi-Noida Metro link is extended. After the approval, the Noida authority is now canvassing with financial institutions for viability-gap funds and tax exemptions to meet the fund requirement. To get all clearances from the departments concerned and ensure due diligence, the Noida authority has appointed the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) as its consultant. According to the proposed alignment, 22 Metro stations have been proposed in the 28km-long Noida and Greater Noida Metro link, which will costs around Rs 5,000 crore at Rs 1.25 crore for every kilometre of Metro track.

Nearly 65,000 commuters are estimated to commute daily (in peak hours) on the proposed Metro line. This link will connect to Ghaziabad in the second phase of the plan. To connect the twin cities of Noida and Greater Noida with Delhi and other NCR cities like Ghaziabad, Gurgaon and Faridabad, the Noida-Greater Noida authority has made a proposal for a chain of connectivity.
In this chain of connectivity, the authority already has two earlier Metro links, which cover all the major areas of Delhi and the NCR. Under the new Metro Link 1, existing Metro terminal at Sector 32 (City Centre) will be extended up to Sector 62 and further connect to Gajipur (Delhi).

This proposed new Metro link will cover Gajipur, Kalyanpuri, Mayur Vihar Phase 1, Sarai Kale Khan, Moolchand, AIIMS, and Bhikaji Kama Place.
And through the new Metro Link 2, Sector 18 will be extended up to NH 8. It will cover AIIMS, Okhla, Nehru Place, Malviya Nagar, and Vasant Kunj; it will further connect to Gurgaon and Faridabad via Central Secretariat and Badarpur. If this dream comes about, Noida Sector 32 (City Centre) Metro line will extend up to Indirapuram via Sector 62, which connects further up to Vaishali Sector 4.

To improve the city-level infrastructure, the Noida authority is also planning wider, better and aesthetically pleasing roads. The width of sector roads in Noida will be increased from 30 metres to 45 metres and changes have been made to the Master Plan 2031 for this purpose as well.

While strengthening of roads will be done in concert with inputs from IIT Roorkee, engineers of the Noida authority will undertake to give the aesthetic touches to the project. The authority will also remove overhead electric wires and lay them underground along all important roads.

Rama Raman, CEO of Noida authority, says: “A 20-metre stretch of MP Road I from Vishwa Bharti School to GIP underpass has been taken up as a pilot project to ensure proper roadside greenery, footpath, drainage, street lighting and safe walk for pedestrians. On completion, the pilot project will be replicated on other city roads. “The model will be replicated at three stages; first, on the main roads, followed by other sector roads, and finally, inter-sector roads will be taken up for repair. In sectors like 94 and 127, residents have been facing traffic jams due to acute congestion. The increase in road width will take care of this problem. Residents may heave a sigh of relief as the road of Sector 37, which had been closed for construction of an underpass, will soon be reopened. Keeping in mind, the problems faced by commuters, the authority will open this road for traffic by the end of this month.”

Mohinder Singh says: “Once the construction work is complete, commuters who go towards Kalindi Kunj and Mahamaya flyover will not face any problem in commuting. Commuters will be able to enjoy a non-stop drive from Kalindi Kunj to Shashi Chowk. The first stage of the underpass, which is under construction, is almost complete.”

According to the Noida authority officials, two underpasses are being constructed to keep the city traffic-free; they will link Noida to Delhi and ease c o m m u t e r s ’ problems. Commuters travelling from Delhi to Noida and Ghaziabad will be benefitted with the opening of this road. Under the traffic-free work plan, a ‘Traffic Park’ will also be set up over an area of five acres near the e x p r e s s w a y, with the explicit purpose of p rov i d i n g awareness and training to children, and their parents, about the basic traffic rules. The park will also impart vehicle driving skills. The park will have three bridges where the RTO department will conduct tests for learners and enable them to earn their driving licences. Also, the information on traffic rules will be imparted to the schoolchildren by the traffic police here.

News Source : Times of India

Getting to the domestic airport could become easier soon. The third phase of the Delhi Metro network, which has got approval from the Delhi government, will have a direct link to the domestic airport with the new line from Janakpuri (West) to Botanical Garden in Noida.

The line will connect not only West Delhi to the IGI domestic airport but also South and East Delhi, with interchange stations at Hauz Khas on the Jehangirpuri-HUDA City Centre line and Kalkaji, on the Central Secretariat-Badarpur line.

The new line, which starts from Janakpuri (West) will also help commuters coming from West Delhi connect straight to the domestic airport. The Janakpuri (West) station is already on the Dwarka Sector 21-Noida/Anand Vihar line.

The good news is that the new Janakpuri-Botanical Garden line would provide not only greater and quicker connectivity to the domestic airport, but also could prove to be an alternative to the existing Airport Express Metro line. The Airport Express, which right now connects to the IGI international airport, starts from the New Delhi Railway Station. The inaugural fare is Rs 80 for the journey from New Delhi Railway Station to IGI airport, with those headed for the domestic airport taking a shuttle from the Indira Gandhi International airport.

However, travel on the new Delhi Metro line will be at the same rate as the rest of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) network.

A senior government official said: “The idea to connect to the domestic airport was to provide a link which is not available at present. The line will also have a station at Palam village.”
For those looking to get to the domestic airport from West or South Delhi though, the new Metro line could prove extremely useful, especially as it does away with the necessity of going through the Rajiv Chowk interchange station. Travel time is expected to be cut substantially for those coming from these areas, as now, in the third phase, the two interchange stations at Hauz Khas and Kalkaji would provide direct connections to the domestic airport.

While there is still some time before the line comes up – government sources say the third phase should be completed over the next five years, the direct connectivity is bound to be good news for the city. Connection from the IGI international airport to the domestic one is through shuttles at present.

Incidentally, the Airport Express Metro line has only four stations operational – New Delhi Railway Station, Shivaji Stadium, IGI Airport and Dwarka Sector 21. The other two stations – Dhaula Kuan and Delhi Aerocity – are expected to become operational shortly.
The stations on the line include Janakpuri (West), Dabri Mor, Dhasrath Puri, Palam, Indira Gandhi domestic airport, Vasant Vihar, Munirka, RK Puram, IIT, Hauz Khas (part of Jehangirpuri-HUDA City Centre Line 2), Panchsheel Park, Chirag Delhi, GK Enclave, Nehru Place, Kalkaji (part of Central Secretariat-Badarpur line 6), Okhla Phase III, Ishwar Nagar, Jamia Nagar, Okhla Vihar, Jasola Vihar, Kalindi Kunj, Amity Noida and Botanical Garden.

ONE MORE IGI ROUTE ON WAY
Janakpuri (W) to Botanical Garden, Noida: A new line in Phase III of the Delhi Metro network
Stations: Janakpuri (West)-Dabri Mor-Dhasrath Puri- Palam -IGI domestic airport-Vasant Vihar-Munirka-RK Puram-IIT-Hauz Khas (part of Jehangirpuri-HUDA City Centre Line 2)- Panchsheel Park-Chirag Delhi-GK Enclave-Nehru Place-Kalkaji (part of Central Secretariat-Badarpur Line 6)-Okhla Phase III-Ishwar Nagar-Jamia Nagar-Okhla Vihar-Jasola Vihar-Kalindi Kunj-Amity Noida-Botanical Garden The line will be an
alternative to the Airport Express line, which currently goes to IGI international airport. Connection to domestic airport is via buses operated by DIAL/DTC at the international airport
Ticket prices
Will be the same as that charged on the Delhi Metro network. Airport Express Metro tickets cost Rs 80 from New Delhi Railway Station (an inaugural fare) to IGI
The line is expected to come up within the next 5 years
Is expected to benefit commuters from West, South and East Delhi as transfer at Rajiv Chowk not required. Instead, three interchange stations – Janakpuri (West), Hauz Khas and Kalkaji – will connect them to the domestic airport directly

News Source : Times of India