Infrastructure
Noida's Aqua Line metro (Source: FE)
The Uttar Pradesh cabinet has approved the detailed project report (DPR) for the expansion of the Aqua Line metro in Noida and Greater Noida.
The new corridor will connect Sector-51 in Noida to Knowledge Park-5 in Greater Noida West. The corridor will span 17.435 km with 11 stations and is estimated to cost Rs 2,991.60 crore.
Currently, the Aqua Line has one operational corridor with 21 stations, running from Sector-51 in Noida to Depot in Greater Noida, which has been functional since 2019.
The Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC) has proposed additional corridors, including the newly approved route and another connecting Botanical Garden to Noida’s Sector-142, to enhance connectivity with the Delhi Metro network.
The approved corridor now links Sector-51 with Knowledge Park-5, with Noida Sector-61 Station serving as a seamless interchange hub between the Aqua Line (NMRC) and the Blue Line (DMRC), as per reports.
Funding for the project includes Rs 394 crore each from the central and state governments. Noida will allocate 40 per cent of the state’s contribution, while the Greater Noida Authority will fund 60 per cent.
According to the original DPR, construction will occur in two phases. The first phase will span 9.6 km with five stations in Sectors 122, 123, Sector-4 in Greater Noida West, Ecotech-12, and Sector-2 in Greater Noida West.
The second phase will cover four stations in Greater Noida Sectors 3, 10, 12, and Knowledge Park-5.