Ahead of Delhi assembly elections early next year, the Union Cabinet on Friday approved the Rithla-Narela-Nathupur (Kundli) corridor as part of Delhi Metro Phase IV, which will improve connectivity between the capital and Haryana.
The 26.46 km long corridor will be constructed over four years and is estimated to cost Rs 6,230 crore. Announcing the decision, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishna said that with the approval of the corridor, the metro network under construction in the country will reach about 1,000 km.
The new corridor will extend the existing Red Line between Shaheed Sthal (new bus stand) and Rithala, increasing connectivity to northwest Delhi, including parts of Narela, Bawana and Rohini. In total, the corridor will have 21 elevated stations.
“Once completed, the Rithla-Narela-Nathupur Corridor will also connect Shaheed Sthal New Bus Adda Station in Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh with Nathupur in Haryana via Delhi, boosting connectivity in the entire National Capital Region,” the government said. The statement said.
He added that the new corridor will reduce road congestion and reduce vehicular pollution.
Vaishnav said with the latest corridor, “Delhi Metro will be one of the largest metro networks in the world”. A total of 392 km metro lines are operated by Delhi Metro in Delhi-NCR.