DMRC sets new deadline to open first stretch of Delhi Metro Phase IV priority corridors

New Delhi, India (Metro Rail Today): The Delhi Metro's Phase-IV project has been affected by the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, prompting the establishment of revised project timelines. Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) Chief, Vikas Kumar, revealed that the first section of a priority corridor is now scheduled to open by July 2024. The project, which commenced in December 2019, encountered disruptions due to the outbreak of the pandemic in March 2020 in Delhi.

As of the present, DMRC is actively engaged in the construction of 65.2 kilometers, spanning across three priority corridors and encompassing 45 stations. These corridors include the Janakpuri West-RK Ashram Marg (28.9 km), the Majlis Park-Maujpur (12.5 km), which are extensions of the already operational Magenta Line and Pink Line, and the Aerocity-Tughlaqabad (23.6 km) corridor, referred to as the 'Silver Line,' which connects the operational Violet Line and the Airport Line from their respective ends.

The impact of Covid-19 necessitated a reevaluation of the project's timelines, as DMRC chief Vikas Kumar explained, "Because of Covid-19, fresh targets were set, and we are on track to achieving them. Janakpuri West to Krishna Park (Extension) is the first section that we are going to open. It's a small stretch, but we are planning to open it by July 2024, covering approximately 2.5-3 km in length. The subsequent milestone is the entire Majlis Park-Maujpur corridor, which we aim to complete by March 2025."

When asked about the overall completion percentage of Phase-IV, Kumar stated, "Overall, about 40% of the work has been completed." According to official sources, the full Janakpuri West-RK Ashram Marg corridor and the Aerocity-Tughlaqabad corridor are expected to be commissioned by March 2026. Initially, DMRC had planned to complete the Phase-IV project by December 2024.

Addressing concerns about cost overruns due to the pandemic, Kumar expressed confidence, stating, "I don't see any major cost overrun due to the pandemic." Despite the pandemic-induced challenges, the project remains on course, with efforts to ensure cost-efficiency and adherence to timelines.

Notably, three proposed corridors within Phase-IV, namely Rithala-Bawana-Narela, Inderlok-Indraprastha, and Lajpat Nagar-Saket G Block, are yet to receive approval from the union cabinet. However, Kumar mentioned that the Inderlok-Indraprastha and Lajpat Nagar-Saket G Block corridors are in advanced stages of approval, with the cabinet's decision pending. Additionally, the third proposed corridor is set to be extended to Kundli in Haryana. Its Detailed Project Report (DPR) is in advanced stages, and it will be submitted to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) for appraisal, indicating continued expansion and development plans for Delhi's Metro network.

While the Covid-19 pandemic posed challenges for the Phase-IV project, Delhi Metro remains committed to ensuring its timely and efficient completion, enhancing the city's public transportation infrastructure and connectivity.