The Delhi Metro’s Janakpuri West-Kalkaji Mandir corridor of the Magenta Line was jointly flagged off by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, on Monday from the Nehru Enclave metro station.
With the opening of this stretch the Delhi Metro network will get expanded to over 270 km with 202 stations spanned over all three phases.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Puri, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Housing and Urban Affairs said, “Delhi Metro now has a network of 277 km. By December this year, it will reach the 380 km mark.”
Referring to the deadlock over its proposal of Phase IV, the Union Minister, further, said that the Centre will take a “decision” if the Delhi government fails to take one. “Implementation of Phase IV will help the rural belt of Delhi,” added Mr. Puri referring to the project that is awaiting a final approval. The Centre and the Delhi government follow a 50:50 equity sharing model.
Mr. Kejriwal on the other hand, said that the proposal for Phase-IV that has been examined by the Finance Department will be taken up by the Cabinet.
Longest stretch
The 24.82 km-long corridor, which is also the longest stretch opened by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) will enable commuters to travel between Gurugram and Noida in 50 minutes.
The Magenta Line, which spans over 37 km from Janakpuri West to Botanical Garden will also connect the Terminal 1 airport and the Capital’s Outer Ring Road to metro stations.
The stretch between Botanical Garden and Kalkaji metro station was thrown open for passenger operations in December last year.
Once passenger operations begin from Tuesday, the DMRC will be left with another 72 km of Phase-III, excluding the Noida-Greater Noida sector.
Contractors protest
Meanwhile, contractors and suppliers of the DMRC protested outside the Nehru Enclave Metro station before the flagging off ceremony, demanding payments to be made by the DMRC.
“It has been more than two years and we have not received any payment, amounting to ₹85 crore, from them. There is no hope as well,” said Jasjeet Singh, a protester.
