While in Delhi Metro’s Phase-II of constructions there was only one instance when a new corridor had to cross below an already operational corridor, the upcoming Phase-III constructions will see four different tunnelling stretches passing below existing underground metro stretches, which will pose a major construction challenge to the engineers.
The proposed new corridors will cross existing operational corridors at 14 different points — 10 of these crossings will be under already operational stretches and four will be elevated above operational metro viaducts. Two elevated metro viaducts have not crossed each other so far anywhere in the metro network, according to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation.
Under Phase-III, the underground stretch from Sarojini Nagar to INA on the Mukundpur-Yamuna Vihar corridor will pass below the underground section of the Jahangirpuri-HUDA City Centre line at INA. Similarly, the underground stretch from Indira Gandhi Domestic Airport (T2) to Vasant Vihar on the Janakpuri West-Botanical Garden corridor will pass below the underground section of the Airport Express Link near Indira Gandhi Domestic Airport.
The deepest point
The underground stretch from Hauz Khas to Panchsheel Park on the Janakpuri West-Botanical Garden corridor will pass below the underground portion of the Jahangirpuri-HUDA City Centre stretch at Hauz Khas and the underground stretch from Mandi House to ITO on the Central Secretariat-Kashmere Gate corridor will pass below the underground section of the Noida-Dwarka corridor at Mandi House.
During Phase- II, a 45-metre-deep tunnel was constructed at Rajiv Chowk metro station for the Airport Express Link. This is currently the deepest point on the Delhi Metro system.
