Centre OKs extension of Red Line to Gzb's New Bus Adda

New Delhi: The Dilshad Garden-New Bus Stand metro route is possibly be available for the commuters soon as the biggest hurdle is being vanished with the approval of the union cabinet for the extension of the Red Line with the financial assistance of Rs 325.87 crore for the development of the project, which is costing nearly Rs 1,781.21 crore.

However, with the commencement of the extended line of 9.41 kilometers, the residents of Ghaziabad will connect with the various part of Delhi-NCR. Moreover, the implementation of the project would provide the much needed additional public transport infrastructure to the NCR town.

Following the release of funds, the DMRC metro safety commissioner will conduct an audit of the project, after which it will be commissioned.

"We hope that the project will be commissioned by next month," the official said. Trial runs on the corridor are going on since August and 98 percent of work on the corridor is complete, he added.

The elevated section will comprise eight stations: Rajendra Nagar, Mohan Nagar, Shyam Park Arthala, Shahid Nagar, Raj Bagh, Hindon River and New Bus Adda, has almost installed the ticketing counter infrastructure is in place, while escalators and lifts have been installed and work on FOBs is going on.

"We have also installed metro gate barriers and signage. Work on emergency exits is relatively slow, but we are trying to expedite it to meet the deadline," a metro official reportedly said.

Moreover, the stations of this corridor have been specially designed with the station buildings on either side of the road and the platform on the central verge along the viaduct. The platforms are not a part of the station buildings, earlier the DMRC said.

What is delaying the progress of the project is the construction of emergency exits, agreed officials. "This is true for all the eight stations on the route. Work on the bridges is also consuming a lot of time," an official said.

The GDA, a key stake holder in the project, and the DMRC are currently chalking out a solution to possible traffic snarls outside metro stations that might happen when the route starts functioning.

"DMRC has been asked to install steel barricades near all metro stations that will serve as a drop-way for commuters. The drop-way will be between 30m and 100m wide. At three stations, Arthala, Shyam Park and New Bus Stand, the parking lot has not been developed fully," said a senior official from GDA. Currently the 25.09 km-long Red Line operates between Rithala and Dilshad Garden and after opening of this new section, the entire Red Line span will become 34.50 km.