Gurgaon Metro Phase-2 Underground Option Could Double Costs, Delay Project by Up to 3 Years.

The Haryana government is yet to decide whether to switch the structural design of the Sector 9-Cyber City corridor of Gurgaon's Metro Phase-2 from elevated to underground. However, this potential shift could double the project’s cost and delay its completion by at least two to three years.

The Gurgaon Metropolitan Rapid Transport Limited (GMRL), responsible for executing the metro project, has prepared a detailed report outlining the technical and financial implications of the proposed change. According to GMRL, changing the design to underground would increase the cost per kilometre from the current ₹330–350 crore estimate to ₹600–650 crore. Besides cost escalation, the shift would also result in delays due to the need for tendering, design revisions, and obtaining fresh approvals.

A senior GMRL official confirmed that the report on the underground alignment will soon be submitted to the Haryana government for a final decision. Officials added that the state government will have to carefully evaluate the financial burden and the timeline impact before deciding whether to proceed with the underground option or stick to the original elevated plan.

The proposal to change the design came after Haryana cabinet minister Rao Narbir Singh wrote to Union minister Manohar Lal Khattar last month, recommending the underground route between Sector 9 and Cyber City, citing the area’s dense population and narrow roads. Singh told TOI on Wednesday, “Across the world, it is standard practice to build metro lines underground in densely built-up areas. This alignment was proposed keeping the city’s future needs in mind—so that if flyovers or other infrastructure are required later, they can be constructed without obstruction.”

Urban transport experts have warned that the underground plan could significantly push back the project timeline. Professor Pradip Kumar Sarkar, transport planner and former professor at Delhi’s School of Planning and Architecture, noted, “A design change means revising the DPR, land acquisition, and approvals, which could add a year or more. An underground corridor is almost twice as expensive and may not be financially viable for a city that still needs to expand its metro network.”

The Union government sanctioned the Gurgaon Metro project in June 2023, covering a 28.5 km stretch from Millennium City Centre to Cyber City, including a spur to Dwarka Expressway, with all stations planned to be elevated. On Monday, the GMRL Board approved the construction of a 1.8 km spur to Gurgaon railway station to improve connectivity. Preparations for civil work on Phase-1 have already begun, with contractors mobilizing manpower and machinery at the casting yard in Sector 33.

Local residents have expressed mixed opinions. Surender Yadav of Sector 5 said, “The road from Sector 9 towards Palam Vihar is already congested during peak hours. Construction of pillars and stations here will make commuting impossible for years. An underground metro might take longer but won’t paralyse daily life.”

Meanwhile, others worry the shift could delay the project further. Lajpat Gupta of Palam Vihar said, “Metro expansion in Gurgaon has been delayed for over a decade. The project was sanctioned after detailed studies. There is no need to revisit the design and cause unnecessary delays.”

With rapid population growth and increasing vehicular density, experts emphasize the urgent need to develop mass public transport in Gurgaon. The government’s final decision on the underground proposal will play a crucial role in shaping the city’s transit future.