Mumbai, June 30 -- Construction work has begun on the Delhi Metro's nine-point-nine-one-three km underground Central Vista corridor, which will run from RK Ashram Marg to Indraprastha and comprise eight stations. Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal inaugurated the work at Central Secretariat Metro station for the extension of the Magenta Line. The project is part of the Phase V(A) expansion overseen by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).

The eight stations are Shivaji Stadium, Yuge Yugeen Bharat, Central Secretariat, Kartavya Bhawan, India Gate, War Memorial-High Court, Baroda House and Bharat Mandapam. Central Secretariat station will become a triple interchange, linking the new Magenta Line stretch with the existing Yellow and Violet lines. Two end stations are located on different lines, with RK Ashram Marg and Indraprastha serving as termini.

DMRC estimates the corridor will improve connectivity between West, North and Old Delhi and the Central Delhi administrative district and is expected to benefit around 60,000 office-goers and 0.2 million (mn) visitors daily. With several ministries shifting to Kartavya Bhawan-I and III, officials currently walk between one km and three km from nearby stations such as Central Secretariat, Patel Chowk, Mandi House and ITO, according to the Central Secretariat Service Forum. The corridor is expected to ease daily commuting, enhance accessibility and help reduce traffic and pollution.

The nine-point-nine-one-three km section forms part of a 16 km Phase V(A) expansion targeted for completion by 2028, a timeline the DMRC has described as challenging. Extensions will include a westward two-point-two km link to IGI Airport Terminal one and an eastward three-point-nine km connection to Kalindi Kunj, while the total estimated cost of the new corridors is over Rs 120 billion (bn). The DMRC also plans a feasibility study on tunnels and underpasses to tackle congestion around C-Hexagon, Man Singh Marg, Rafi Ahmad Kidwai Marg and Teen Murti Marg through to 2060, and has floated a tender for a consultant.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Construction World.