DMRC 4th Phase Expansion: Over 50% of Work Completed on All Three Corridors.

More than 50 percent of the work on all three priority corridors under Delhi Metro's fourth phase expansion project is now complete, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) announced on Sunday. The new 65-kilometre network is targeted to be operational by 2026.

DMRC officials highlighted that the Phase 4 expansion project is progressing rapidly. Despite the start of work in December 2019, progress was hindered from 2020 to 2022 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and delays in obtaining tree-cutting permissions.

"Work on the expansion project has effectively been ongoing for only the past one-and-a-half to two years," an agency official stated, adding that this timeline gives the DMRC about four years to complete the project.

"At present, more than 50 percent progress has already been achieved on all three corridors. On the Majlis Park-Maujpur corridor, about 80 percent of the civil work is completed," said Anuj Dayal, the DMRC's principal executive director of corporate communications.

Dayal added that tunneling work is underway on various sections of the Aerocity-Tughlakabad (Golden Line) and the Janakpuri West-RK Ashram Marg (Magenta Line) corridors. Despite the challenges posed by Covid-19 and delays in permissions, the Janakpuri West to Krishna Park Extension section of Phase 4 is nearly complete and is expected to open by August.

The entire Majlis Park-Maujpur corridor is anticipated to open next year, with the remaining sections of the priority corridors expected to be operational in phases by 2026. However, certain permissions for tree cutting and land acquisition at isolated locations are still pending.

Dayal mentioned that the project is being closely monitored, with daily oversight and site visits at the highest levels to expedite work. Permissions for tree cutting are being pursued at appropriate levels.

Recently, two more corridors under Phase 4 – Inderlok-Indraprastha and Saket G Block-Lajpat Nagar – received approval. The DMRC is now seeking clearances for land acquisition, forest clearing, and tree cutting, with planning and tendering for civil works underway.

BS