Providing easy access to two of the busiest markets, the INA metro station is expected receive a large number of footfalls once the Central Secretariat-Qutub Minar-HUDA City Centre corridor of the Delhi Metro opens in August.
Delhi Metro Rail Corporation officials expect the INA station to be one of the busiest stations along the 27-km-long corridor.
“The station will become one of the most important commercial metro stations in South Delhi as this will cater to INA and the Sarojini Nagar markets, which are two of the biggest markets of the Capital apart from Delhi Haat, which is one of the favourite tourist destinations,” said a DMRC official.
The station will also cater to residents of Laxmi Bai Nagar, Sarojini Nagar and parts of Safdarjung Enclave.
“Work on this underground station is complete, with only minor finishing works being carried out. The trial runs for the entire 12.53-km-long underground Central Secretariat–Qutub Minar stretch is going on in full-swing and the entire stretch is expected to be opened for the public in August,” said a DMRC spokesperson.
The INA metro station will have three entry/exit structures with separate gates catering to Aurobindo Marg, Delhi Haat and INA Market. The DMRC has also constructed free-subways for commuters at both these entry/exits below Aurobindo Marg to allow people to cross the road safely even if they are not using the metro.
“The INA metro station has been provided with five escalators with three escalators between the ground and concourse level and two escalators between the concourse and platform level of the station. A total of six automatic fare collection gates are being installed apart from six lifts for the convenience of passenger movement at the station,” the spokesperson said.
The DMRC has achieved a major engineering feat between INA and Jor Bagh metro stations by constructing two tunnels (for up and down movement of trains) below the Indian Railways track and the Safdarjung flyover without hampering railway and vehicular traffic even for a day. The tunnelling was done 12 metres below the earth surface.
“The Delhi Metro has also restored three parks covering around 9, 000 square metres of area above the INA metro station which it had taken from the CPWD for the construction works. All the three parks will be handed over to its parent agency within a month,” the spokesperson said.
