NEW DELHI: On December 25, the much-awaited Delhi metro magenta line will connect Botanical Garden in Noida to Kalkaji directly, reducing the travel time from the current 52 minutes to just 19 minutes.
Currently, to travel the distance, commuters need to board from Botanical Garden, go to Mandi House via Blue Line and change to Violet Line to go to Kalkaji. This line is a part of the
Magenta Line which will eventually connect Botanical Garden and Janakpuri West.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Metro stretch on December 25 after which it will be open for commercial operations.
Those going towards Faridabad from Noida will benefit the most with the operation of the section, which will almost halve the travel time to many destinations towards that direction because of Kalkaji Mandir being a junction station with Violet Line (Kashmiri Gate-Escorts Mujeser).
The safety inspection for the 12.64-km section was held from November 13 to 15 after which it was given a go-ahead by the Commissioner for Metro Rail Safety (CMRS).
Metro's new generation trains, which can run without drivers, will run on this section where an advanced Communication Based Train Control (CBTC) signalling technology that will facilitate movement of trains with a frequency of 90 to 100 seconds will also be pressed into service.
However, for an initial period of two-three years the trains will have drivers.
Once the entire corridor from Botanical Garden till Janakpuri West (38.23 km) is opened, commuters from Noida will be able to go to Gurgaon by changing trains at Hauz Khas.
The Botanical Garden has been developed as the metro's first-ever inter-change station outside the boundaries of Delhi.
Here is the route that will be in operation from December 25:
Kalkaji Mandir
Okhla NSIC
Sukhdev Vihar
Jamia Millia Islamia
Okhla Vihar
Jasola Vihar Shaheen Bagh
Kalindi Kunj
Okhla Bird Sanctuary
Botanical Garden
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