Delhi Metro: Lajpat Nagar-South Campus Pink Line opening August 6
The Durgabai Deshmukh South Campus-Lajpat Nagar section of Delhi Metro's Pink Line will be inaugurated on August 6. Commuters from North and West Delhi will now be able to bypass the traffic-packed Ring Road to reach South Delhi. CM Arvind Kejriwal and Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri will launch it remotely from the Metro Bhawan at 11:30am. Passenger services will start 1pm the same day.
Stretch connects four major markets
The to-be-opened 8.1km section will be a shoppers' delight, connecting Sarojini Nagar, Lajpat Nagar, INA and South Extension. New stations include Sir Vishweshwariah Moti Bagh, Bhikhaji Cama, Sarojini Nagar, INA, South Extension and Lajpat Nagar. All except Moti Bagh are underground. This is a part of the 59km Majlis Park-Shiv Vihar Pink Line. The Majlis Park-Durgabai Deshmukh South Campus section was opened in February.
Interchange facilities at INA and Lajpat Nagar
Services will begin with 23 trains, running in gaps of 5 minutes and 12 seconds during peak hours and 5 minutes and 45 seconds otherwise. Interchange facilities will be available at INA (Yellow Line) and Lajpat Nagar (Violet Line). The third segment connecting Trilokpuri and Shiv Vihar is expected to open this month too. The final stretch, Lajpat Nagar-Mayur Vihar, is likely to open in September.
Inauguration delayed by months, stations still not ready
The upcoming inauguration was delayed by over two months as much of the work was yet to be completed. Though the commissioner for metro rail safety gave conditional approval for the upcoming stretch, problems remain: just yesterday, water leaked into the brand-new Bhikaji Cama station after rains. A portion of the adjacent pavement caved in. Repairs will be done in two days, officials assured.
Delhi Metro to soon have a 296km-long network
After this opening, the Delhi Metro will have a 296km long network with 214 metro stations. The Pink Line will eventually be the longest route and will take more than an hour to cover. It is the first to connect all the six other lines.
