Cabinet approves metro line extension in Noida

The cabinet has approved the extension of the Delhi Metro rail network from Noida City Centre to Sector-62, which borders Ghaziabad in UP

The cabinet, on May 16, 2018, approved the extension of the Dwarka-Noida City Centre line of Delhi Metro, up to Sector-62, which borders Ghaziabad in UP, with an investment of Rs 1,967 crores, union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad announced. The new line is proposed to have six stations. Briefing reporters on the cabinet decisions, Prasad said the total stretch for the extension would be 6.675 kms and it would provide transport facilities to a large number of people living in Noida, besides catering to residents of the close-by areas of Ghaziabad.

The minister said Noida was expanding, in terms of commerce and educational facilities and the extended line would help in greater mobility of people. The project will also result in development of more residential and commercial complexes in the region and also help more people to move to the satellite town of Delhi, thus decongestant the national capital, an official release said. “Under Delhi Metro corridor, metro line will be extended from Noida City Centre to Sector 62, Noida. Rs 1,967 crores would be spent on the expansion,” Prasad said. The centre’s liability will be to the tune of Rs 340. 60 crores, on account of grant and subordinate debt for the project, an official release said.

The project will be implemented by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (DMRC), the existing Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) of the centre and Delhi governments. “With the metro rail in place, there will be less vehicular traffic on roads, leading to less congestion, less time and cost of journey, less consumption of fossil fuels and less environmental pollution,” the release said. About 800 staff, including engineers, is currently working at the project site and the DMRC has started the procedure for recruitment of around 200 employees for operation and maintenance of this corridor. “About 81 per cent progress of civil work and 55 per cent of overall financial progress of the project have been achieved,” the release said. The population of Noida as per the 2011 census, is about 6.42 lakh.