DDSC-Lajpat Nagar section of Delhi Metro launched
The Durgabai Deshmukh South Campus-Lajpat Nagar section of Delhi Metro's Pink Line was on Monday inaugurated by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. The new line links four major shopping centres in the city and includes six metro stations.
The network of Delhi Metro has expanded to 296 km spread through 214 stations with the inauguration of this line.
Puri, the Union minister of housing and urban affairs, said the inauguration of the newly-constructed eight-kilometre section was a moment of pride for people of Delhi.
"The Phase-III has been completed in seven years, which is half the time it took for completion of Phase I and Phase II. The credit for this goes to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DRMC) and not to any political party," Puri said.
Praising Japan's cooperation and Japan International Cooperation Agency for developing metro rail network in India, Puri said "I have been told that our metro rail network has crossed 500-km mark. Out of the 500 km, more than 300 km has been completed with the cooperation of Japan and JICA,"
Work is underway on another 620 km network, he added.
The Indian Green Building Council had rated the six stations platinum, for adhering to environment-friendly building norms, DMRC officials said.
The new line connecting four major market hubs will help resolving parking problems in the busy areas, said Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
The 8.10-km-long Durgabai Deshmukh South Campus-Lajpat Nagar section has interchange facilities at INA (with Yellow Line) and Lajpat Nagar (Violet Line).
This stretch is a part of the 59-km-long Majlis Park-Shiv Vihar Corridor (Pink Line), which falls under the Phase-III network of DMRC. The total operational network of Phase-III after opening of this section has increased to 106 km, DMRC said.
The first corridor of the Pink Line, from Majlis Park to South Campus was inaugurated on March 14, connecting the north and south campuses of the Delhi University on the DMRC network.
A total of 23 trains will be put into service, with a frequency of 5 minutes and 12 seconds during peak hours and 5 minutes and 45 seconds during non-peak hours, the officials said.
Sir Vishveshwaraiah Moti Bagh is an elevated metro station, whereas Bhikaji Kama Place, INA, Sarojini Nagar, South Extension and Lajpat Nagar are underground stations.
