NEW DELHI/NOIDA: On Christmas day, Delhi Metro threw open the Magenta line, one of the most important pieces of its third phase that brings the Noida-south Delhi journey down to just 19 minutes.
The 12.64km section that was opened, with Botanical Garden and Kalkaji Mandir as the two terminal stations, is Metro's version of the DND Flyway. Cutting across the Yamuna, it reduces travel time in Metro between the two cities to nearly a third of what it previously took (52 minutes, via Mandi House).
Before Monday, commuters had to traverse 22 stations, including an interchange at Mandi House, to reach Kalkaji station from Botanical Garden. The drastically shortened journey also means that commuters will be saving money — instead of Rs 50 via Mandi House, the Magenta line ride from Botanical Garden to Kalkaji Mandir will cost Rs 30.
The line was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who boarded the Metro from the Botanical Garden station and travelled till the next station, Okhla Bird Sanctuary station, the only two stations on the stretch that are in Noida. The seven other stations till Kalkaji Mandir are in Delhi.
The section was opened for commercial operations at 5pm. Monday being a holiday, the new corridor mostly saw people flocking to the nearest station to get a first-hand experience of the 'driverless' trains. Trains on the Magenta line are being operated using a new signalling technology - Communication Based Train Control (CBTC), which allows unattended train operations (UTO) — but drivers will be present in the trains for the next couple of years.
More good news awaits commuters in March 2018 when the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) opens the entire Botanical GardenJanakpuri West corridor, connecting with IGI's domestic terminal. The Magenta line would then not only connect more south Delhi areas with Noida but also provide interchange facilities at Hauz Khas station, where it will join the Yellow line from Gurgaon.
The line also brings several new south Delhi areas into the Metro network.
The new corridor is not only a boon for Noida residents traveling to south Delhi or Faridabad but also for south Delhi residents planning to visit the commercial and entertainment hub at Noida Sector 18, which is just a station away from Botanical Garden, and for nature lovers headed for the Okhla Bird Sanctuary. The Kalkaji Mandir interchange station offers adequate parking space.
The newly opened section of the Magenta Line has now also brought on the Metro map many areas of Delhi that were till now plagued by the lack of adequate connectivity and public transport. Jamia Millia Islamia university now has a Metro station next door and its students are happy. "Reaching the university from other parts of the city was a tough task and I even missed my examination once as I couldn't find a bus on time. Delhi University got its Metro station years ago and finally, we are on a par with DU," said
Ali Sher, a postgraduate student of Jamia.
Not far from the Jamia campus is the chaotic Zakir Nagar main road, which leads into the Jamia Nagar area, a maze of narrow, congested lanes. "The Metro will prove to be a lifeline for the area as we have no public transport available here except for the 'phatphat sewa' vehicles," said Waris Khan, who lives in Jamia Nagar.
The Magenta Line will cater to many thickly populated pockets in the area. While the Jamia Millia station will service areas such as Zakir Nagar, Mehboob Nagar and Batla House, the Okhla Vihar station is close to equally congested areas such as Nai Basti, Mujeeb Bagh, Jamia Nagar and
Abul Fazal Enclave.
Just like the
Chandni Chowk Metro station had opened up the walled city to food connoisseurs across the city, Jamia Millia station offers close connectivity to the famed food street of Zakir Nagar, famous for its biryani, kheer and other delicacies.
"You get Delhi's best biryani here and we offer both spicy and non-spicy versions for all kind of customers. With the Metro opening, we have high hopes of the business getting better with not only local clientele but even customers from other parts of the city coming here," said Sameer Saifi, who owns an eatery in the area.
The inauguration happened with the pressing of a button on the ground floor of the Botanical Garden metro station at 1.04pm.
At 1.08 pm, the PM boarded the metro from Botanical Garden station, flanked by UP CM Yogi Aditya Nath and Governor Ram Naik.
Union Ministers Hardeep Singh Puri, Mahesh Sharma (the MP from Gautam Budh Nagar), UP ministers Satish Mahana and Suresh Khanna travelled in the same coach and were seated opposite the PM and CM. Noida MLA Pankaj Singh travelled in another coach. The train carrying the PM reached Okhla Bird Sanctuary station at 1.12 pm.
