Strengthening NCR Connectivity: Delhi Metro's Gold Line Proposed For Extension To Link Noida With IGI Airport And Beyond

Noida is set to witness a significant boost in its metro connectivity, with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) proposing a direct metro link to Indira Gandhi international (IGI) Airport’s Aerocity, which could later extend to Terminal 3.

This would involve extending the under-construction Gold Line to Kalindi Kunj through a 5 km elevated corridor from Tughlakabad, at an estimated cost of Rs 950 crore.

The Gold Line, which connects Tughlakabad to Aerocity, is nearing completion, and this proposed extension would create a seamless metro grid in Noida.

If implemented, Kalindi Kunj and Botanical Garden – both major metro hubs with access to the Magenta Line – will serve as key interchange stations.

The Magenta Line already offers a direct connection to IGI Airport's Terminal 1. The new proposal would provide an additional metro route to Terminal 3 via Aerocity, enhancing access to the Blue Line through Botanical Garden.

The project aligns with Noida's broader plans to improve mass transit connectivity to the upcoming Noida International Airport in Jewar. "The project’s future depends on the CM’s review of the proposal and how funding could be achieved," said Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) CEO Arun Vir Singh. The proposal will soon be presented to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for approval.

DMRC has proposed two new metro stations at Sarita Vihar Depot and Madanpur Khadar along this 5km extension. If approved, the project could be completed within three years, offering faster connectivity to IGI Airport and complementing other transport initiatives, such as the Aqua Line’s expressway extension to Pari Chowk in Greater Noida.

Notably, Noida International Airport, which is set to commence operations next year, announced the launch of its own taxi service and is also exploring bus connectivity to key points in the region.

Plans for a rapid rail corridor from the Delhi-Meerut Namo Bharat line to Jewar remain on the drawing board, with the metro extension serving as a more immediate solution.

Singh highlighted the urgency of this proposal, stating, "While rapid rail could take more than five years to become operational, this metro project would provide connectivity between IGI and Pari Chowk within three years."