Delhi Metro's Magenta Line to be inaugurated on Christmas
This Christmas, PM Narendra Modi will inaugurate the much-awaited Magenta Line of the Delhi Metro. For now, a 12.64km, nine-station stretch of the 38.23km Botanical Garden-Janakpuri West corridor will be opened; the rest should be ready by late 2018. The line got safety approval in mid-November, but was awaiting the PMO's clearance. This line breaks many records in India.
All about the new route and the new trains
The Botanical Garden-Kalkaji Mandir route to be opened on December 25 will have seven stations in between: Okhla Bird Sanctuary, Kalindi Kunj, Jasola Vihar-Shaheen Bagh, Okhla Vihar, Jamia Milia Islamia, Sukhdev Vihar and Okhla NSIC. Only Kalkaji Mandir is underground, rest are elevated. The route will cater to Jamia and Amity University. The luxurious trains will have wifi, LED/LCD screens and colorful seats (red/pink/orange/blue).
The many records it breaks in India
This line marks many firsts: the Communication-Based Train Control system will reduce waiting time from two minutes to 90-100 seconds. Unattended Train Operations will enable driverless trains, but not for another two-three years. Botanical Garden is the first interchange station outside Delhi: footfall is expected to increase from 30,000 to 97,780. In another first, construction of two tunnels was completed simultaneously at Dabri Mor.
How will it impact the current routes?
Currently, for a Noida-South Delhi journey, commuters have to change trains at Mandi House. After this new route, they and those on the Noida-Faridabad route can go directly to Kalkaji Mandir, which is also on the Violet Line, thus cutting travel time. Once the entire corridor is opened, commuters from Noida to Gurgaon will be able to change trains at Hauz Khas.
The Delhi Metro started operations on Christmas 2002!
Christmas marks a special occasion for the Delhi Metro: in 2002, the Red Line, its first, was inaugurated on this day. The Magenta Line will be the first after the Airport Line to have screen doors on platforms. A first-of-its-kind elevated stabling yard has been built at Jasola Vihar-Shaheen Bagh, which can accommodate 27 trains; till now, trains in India are stabled at depots.
