Last section of Magenta Line to start operations on May 29

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Monday announced that the Janakpuri West-Kalkaji Mandir corridor of the Magenta Line will be thrown open to the public from May 29.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs (Independent Charge) Hardeep Singh Puri will flag off the inaugural train on May 28 from the Nehru Enclave metro station.

The 25.6 km stretch, comprising 16 stations, will be the longest segment to be opened in the Delhi Metro’s Phase III network.

“With the opening of this stretch, the entire 38.2 km-long Magenta Line (Janakpuri West-Botanical Garden) will become operational,” said DMRC executive director (corporate communications) Anuj Dayal.

The Kalkaji Mandir-Botanical Garden stretch of the Magenta Line was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 25 last year.

Once the line is ‘completely operational’, trains will arrive at stations every 5.15 minutes.

Two interchange stations

“After the Magenta Line fully opens, we will run 24 trains and then gradually increase it to 26. If the passenger traffic demands, we may increase train frequency after studying the traffic pattern,” said Mr. Dayal.

With two interchange stations at Janakpuri West (with Blue Line) and at Hauz Khas (with Yellow Line), this segment will also connect commuters to the Indira Gandhi International Airport’s Terminal 1 for the first time.

With the opening of the line, commuters from Gurugram will be able to reach south Delhi and Noida after interchanging at the Hauz Khas metro station.

Apart from Shankar Vihar and Sadar Bazar Cantonment metro stations, all other stations on the 25.6 km stretch, including Chirag Delhi, G.K. Enclave, Munirka and R.K. Puram are underground.