Following approval from the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS), Delhi Metro’s Red Line extension to Ghaziabad is set to begin passenger operations soon, said officials of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).
Officials said that confirmation pertaining to the line becoming operational is awaited from the Uttar Pradesh government.
The 9.63-km-long corridor connects Dilshad Garden metro station to New Bus Adda metro station in Ghaziabad. This stretch is an extension of the already existing 25-km Rithala-Dilshad Garden corridor of the Delhi Metro’s Red Line.
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Once this corridor becomes operational, the Red Line will become approximately 35-km-long.
The extension from Dilshad Garden has eight stations — Shaheed Nagar, Raj Bagh, Rajendra Nagar, Shyam Park, Mohan Nagar, Arthala, Hindon River and the New Bus Adda.
“This corridor will help in connecting the satellite city of Ghaziabad with the national capital. This will be the second metro line in Ghaziabad after Vaishali [Blue Line] and the first metro link to the interiors of Ghaziabad,” said Anuj Dayal, spokesperson of the DMRC.
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“This corridor will pass through the Sahibabad Industrial Area and will significantly impact the residential areas lying in proximity. Currently, commuters have to rely on other modes of transport from Dilshad Garden to Sahibabad, but now with the extension, the connectivity will improve considerably,” Mr. Dayal added.
Trains will be available at a peak-hour frequency of six minutes and 12 seconds, said officials. The total travel time for commuters travelling from Rithala to New Bus Adda will be 57 minutes.
In a first, platforms are connected to each station building with the help of foot overbridges on either side, except Hindon River station, said officials.
“At all stations, except Hindon river station, FOBs at the concourse level comprises paid and unpaid sections for metro commuters and general public. People who do not wish to use the metro but the FOB to cross the road, can access unpaid sections,” explained Mr. Dayal.
With the opening of this corridor, over 146 km of Delhi Metro’s Phase III network will become operational.