On Fast-Track: Three Metro Corridors Between Noida And Greater Noida For Better Connectivity To Delhi

The metro rail connectivity between the twin industrial cities of Noida and Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh is set to be expanded by commissioning three new corridors.

The state government has fast-tracked various clearances for these projects and the central government is likely to give its approval for the projects next month.

The three proposed corridors are a 14.5-km metro line branching out from Aqua Line’s Noida Sector 51 to Greater Noida’s Knowledge Park-V, a 2.6-km corridor from the Greater Noida’s Knowledge Park-V on Aqua Line to Bodaki in Greater Noida and an 11-km extension from Blue Line’s Botanical Garden Metro Station towards Sector 142 Metro Station that is part of the Aqua Line.

The Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC) currently operates 29.71-km long Aqua Line between the twin cities of Noida and Greater Noida.

The corridor, consisting of 21 stations out of which 15 are in Noida and six in Greater Noida, stretches from Noida’s Sector 51 to the Depot in Greater Noida.

Further, the Blue Line of the Delhi Metro connects Dwarka Sector 21 in Delhi with Noida Electronic City, with 12 stations in Noida.

A 300-metre walkway connects the Sec-52 Station on Blue Line with Sec-51 Station of NMRC's Aqua Line.

The work on these three corridors has been progressing at a tepid pace, as the requisite approvals from state agencies and the Union government are yet to come by.

The detailed project report (DPR) of the Sector 51-Knowledge Park-V stretch was already approved by the Uttar Pradesh government in 2019 itself, but is yet to be approved by the central government.

The NMRC officials are hopeful that the project will be cleared by the central government by next month. The NMRC aims to start work on the ground by the end of November.

Similarly, the DPR of 2.6-km Aqua Line extension from Knowledge Park-V to Bodaki was also approved by the Greater Noida Authority and is expected to be approved by the state government this month.

The decision on the alignment of the third corridor connecting Botanical Garden to Sector 142 will also be finalised soon by the Noida Authority and the NMRC. The Botanical Garden is a key interchange station in the Blue Line and the Janakpuri West-Botanical Garden corridor.

Last month, the NMRC held a meeting with all stakeholders, residents and industrialists to discuss the route options between Sector 142 and Botanical Garden.

This route is expected to be beneficial for thousands of commuters to industrial and residential areas located along the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway.