The Delhi Metro's 17.8 kilometer-long stretch of Shiv Vihar-Trilokpuri section of the Pink Line has got a safety go-ahead from the commissioner for Metro rail safety (CMRS) and is expected to begin operations by early next month.
In its official confirmation, a DMRC spokesperson said; "The CMRS, SK Pathak has accorded approval to the Shiv Vihar-Trilokpuri section of the Delhi Metro's Pink Line after its inspection on October 20, 2018". He added that the approval is subject to fulfilment of certain stipulations and formalities.
The highlight of the new section will be the presence of three interchange stations — Anand Vihar with Blue Line (Dwarka-Vaishali/Noida City Centre), Karkardooma with Blue Line and Welcome with Red Line (Dilshad Garden-Rithala).
This 17.86km elevated stretch comprises of 15 stations — Trilokpuri Sanjay Lake, East Vinod Nagar, Mayur Vihar II, Mandawali, West Vinod Nagar, I P Extension, Anand Vihar ISBT, Karkardooma, Karkardooma Court, Krishna Nagar, East Azad Nagar, Welcome, Jaffrabad, Maujpur-Babarpur, Gokulpuri, Johri Enclave and Shiv Vihar.
With the opening of this section, the total length of Delhi Metro network will be 314 kilometres. The new section will also provide much-needed Metro connectivity to northeast Delhi areas like Gokulpuri, Jaffrabad, Maujpur and Johri Enclave.
Also, the interchange facilities at Welcome station will aid the commuters travelling by the Pink Line to changee trains for the Red Line. Commuters can further travel to interchange points at Karkardooma and Anand Vihar and take a train on the Blue Line to reach Ghaziabad or east Delhi instead of the long detour through Kashmere Gate and then Rajiv Chowk at present.