New Delhi: Magenta Line, which is set to become the longest metro corridor, will feature the highest number of interchange stations at 21, significantly enhancing cross-city connectivity across National Capital Region, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation stated on Wednesday. The line will run from Botanical Garden to Inderlok via Central Vista and function entirely as a driverless corridor once fully operational.TOI reported on Jan 31 that after the approval of Phase-V (A)’s corridor from Ramakrishna Ashram Marg to Indraprastha via Central Vista, the Indraprastha-Inderlok corridor of Phase-IV would be implemented as an extension of Magenta Line, instead of earlier plans for Green Line. This will take the total length of Magenta Line to around 89km, surpassing Pink Line.The Krishna Park Extension-RK Ashram Marg stretch of Magenta Line is expected to open in the next financial year in phases while the RK Ashram-Indraprastha section is likely to open by 2028. The remaining corridor from Indraprastha to Inderlok will open in phases.Its operational stretch has four interchange stations — Kalkaji Mandir, Botanical Garden, Janakpuri West and Hauz Khas. An additional 17 interchange stations will be added due to the expansions: Kalindi Kunj, Chirag Dilli, Terminal-1 IGI Airport, Peeragarhi, Pitampura (Madhuban Chowk), Haiderpur Badli Mor, Majlis Park, Azadpur, Pulbangash, Nabi Karim, Ramakrishna Ashram Marg, Shivaji Stadium, Central Secretariat, Indraprastha, Delhi Gate, New Delhi and Inderlok. Of these, Central Secretariat, Azadpur, New Delhi and Inderlok will become triple interchange stations.Currently, the Pink and Blue lines have the highest number of interchange stations at 12 each. After the addition of new corridors, they will have 15 and 14 interchange stations, respectively.Pink Line, from Majlis Park to Shiv Vihar, is now the longest corridor of the metro network, spanning 59.2km. Once its Phase-IV extension from Majlis Park to Maujpur becomes operational, the corridor’s length will rise to nearly 72km. Despite this expansion, Magenta Line will emerge as the longest line, with 65 stations.The line will also have the highest number of underground stations. “The line from Botanical Garden to Inderlok will have 65 stations, out of which 40 will be underground. The extensive interchange facilities of Magenta Line are expected to reduce travel time, decongest major corridors and provide seamless, end-to-end connectivity across the city,” said Anuj Dayal, principal executive director of corporate communications at DMRC.Magenta Line also hosts two significant engineering landmarks of the Delhi Metro network, Dayal added. Haiderpur Badli Mor is the highest elevated metro station at the rail level height of approximately 28.4 metres at pier number 340, while Hauz Khas is the deepest underground station at around 29 metres.
