NEW DELHI: The Delhi cabinet on Wednesday approved Metro Phase-V (A), clearing the construction of three new corridors spanning 16 kilometres. Set to be completed by 2028, it will add 13 new stations — 10 underground and three elevated — to the city’s metro network.Delhi govt will contribute Rs 2,940 crore towards the project, which is estimated to cost just over Rs 12,000 crore.Chief minister Rekha Gupta said the new phase is “a decisive investment in Delhi’s future”, adding that “strengthening public transport is essential to building a cleaner, more efficient and globally competitive capital”. The expansion aims to enhance connectivity across key parts of the city while easing traffic congestion and reducing vehicular pollution, govt officials said. The corridors have been planned to ensure seamless interchanges with operational lines, allowing passengers to travel across the city with fewer transfers and reduced travel time, they added.The largest corridor under Phase-V (A) will run from R K Ashram Marg to Indraprastha via Central Vista. Stretching 9.9 km, nine of its stations will connect major administrative and institutional hubs in central Delhi. Key locations on the route are Shivaji Stadium, Central Secretariat, CCS Buildings, India Gate, War Memorial, Delhi High Court, Baroda House, Bharat Mandapam and Indraprastha.Nearly 2 lakh commuters, including around 60,000 govt employees, are expected to benefit from this corridor that will cost Rs 9,570 crore, with Delhi govt’s contribution at Rs 2,337 crore. “This corridor will reduce dependence on petrol and diesel vehicles and significantly improve air quality in the heart of the capital,” the chief minister said.The second corridor will connect Aerocity to Indira Gandhi International Airport’s Terminal 1. Though it will be a shade over 2.2 km long and have just one station, it is considered important as it will provide direct metro access to the domestic terminal. It is expected to reduce congestion around the airport by lowering the reliance of commuters on taxis and private vehicles. The estimated cost is Rs 1,420 crore, of which Rs 352 crore will be funded by Delhi govt. The third corridor, from Tughlakabad to Kalindi Kunj, will span 3.9 km and have three stations. It will strengthen connectivity in south and southeast Delhi and is set to cost around Rs 1,025 crore, with Delhi govt pitching in with over Rs 251 crore.Calling the expansion a step towards PM Modi’s “7-C Vision” of mobility, the CM said, “Our goal is to create a transport system that is connected, congestion-free, clean and citizen-focused.”With Phase V(A), the Delhi Metro network is set to reinforce its role as the backbone of the capital’s urban mobility system while advancing environmental and infrastructure goals.
