Delhi Metro's Magenta Line Becomes Fully Operational

The Magenta Line of the Delhi Metro, which in the first phase connected Botanical Garden in Noida with Kalkaji Mandir in south Delhi, has now become fully operational connecting to Janakpuri in west Delhi via Hauz Khas. While the first stretch of the corridor was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on December 25 last year the new stretch has been inaugurated by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Union Housing Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on May 28. The passenger services on this stretch will begin from May 29. 

With this, areas, including Vasant Vihar, Munirka, IIT, Greater Kailash and Chirag Dilli, will be accessible through the Delhi Metro network, making the commute easier to the national capital regions of Noida and Gurgaon and from south to west Delhi. For instance, the travelling time between Hauz Khas and Janakpuri, using the Blue and Yellow lines, is 55 minutes. This time will come down to 30 minutes now that the new stretch is operational. 

The new development is expected to have a positive impact on the Noida property market, which is known to be one of the most developed yet affordable pockets for buying a home, due to enhanced connectivity. 

Here are some interesting facts about the newly-launched Metro route: 

Driverless technology 

The trains plying on this corridor will use new-generation driverless technology, the first-of-its-kind signalling system called the Communication Based Train Control (CBTC). However, for the initial two-three years, the trains will have drivers. 

Extended connectivity

The first phase of the Magenta Line of the Delhi Metro spanned 12.64 km, and had nine stations. These stations included Botanical Garden, Okhla Bird Sanctuary, Kalindi Kunj, Jasola Vihar Shaheen Bagh, Okhla Vihar, Jamia Milia Islamia, Sukhdev Vihar, Okhla NSIC and Kalkaji Mandir. The line will cut down the travel time for those travelling to Faridabad, Noida and Gurgaon. Once the line is complete there will be three interchangeable stations – Kalkaji Mandir (Violet Line), Hauz Khas (Yellow Line) and Janakpuri West (Blue Line).

The stretch, once extended to Janakpuri, will be a 38.23-km corridor. 

Passengers first 

The waiting time at the platforms on this new corridor will be reduced from the average two minutes to 90 seconds. This line will also see automated platform screen doors at every station, just like the Airport Express Metro Line. All trains on this route will be Wi-Fi enabled, have USB ports and backrest for the wheelchair travellers.

Trivia about the date

PM Narendra Modi will be inaugurating the new Metro on Christmas which is also the birth anniversary of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. This is also the 15th anniversary of the Delhi Metro's Red Line that runs from Dilshad Garden to Rithala. The line became operational in 2002 on this day.