‘Interchange’ at Delhi metro Magenta line's Madhuban Chowk station incomplete

In the absence of a foot overbridge, commuters currently have to exit either station and cross the busy Madhuban Chowk intersection to switch lines.

A new 9.9km corridor of the Magenta Line, from Majlis Park to Deepali Chowk, was inaugurated on March 8, but an interchange foot overbridge (FOB) for commuters to go from the Madubhan Chowk station on Magenta Line to the nearby station on the Red Line is yet to be constructed.

A view of a Delhi Metro train on the Magenta Line after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Majlis Park–Maujpur-Babarpur stretch of the Pink Line and the Deepali Chowk–Majlis Park extension of the Magenta Line. ( Photo by Ishant Chauhan/HT)

In the absence of the FOB, commuters currently have to exit either station and cross the busy Madhuban Chowk intersection to switch lines.

Metro officials said that while Madhuban Chowk has been designated an interchange station, the key component — a double-decker FOB linking the two stations — is likely to be ready only by September.

“A double-decker FOB is being built to connect the new Madhuban Chowk station on the Magenta Line with the Madhuban Chowk station on the Red Line. As per plan, the FOB, about 182.7 metres long, will connect the paid areas of the two stations, turning it into a seamless interchange facility,” said Anuj Dayal, principal executive director, corporate communications, DMRC.

DMRC said a second FOB is also planned to connect both stations with the Rohini courts complex. “The second FOB will be 173.2 metres long and is being planned in coordination with the PWD. Construction has commenced and we expect to open the facility by September 2026,” Dayal said.

Construction of foot-over bridge lies incomplete (HT Photo)

HT visited the station on Tuesday and found multiple challenges in switching between the two lines. On the Red Line, the digital display inside trains still showed the station as ‘Pitampura’, with announcements also using the old name.

The station was renamed Madhuban Chowk in the last week of February, the chief minister’s office had said. Signage outside the station also reflected the new name, unlike the trains.

Some commuters appeared confused by the dual names, though locals said both names are still in use.

“A lot of local commuters still call it Pitampura station,” said Poornima Chaudhary, 26, a resident of the area.

DMRC officials said updates to station names in announcements and displays are still underway.

At the station, staff confirmed that no internal interchange facility is currently available. “Passengers have to exit and walk across. The interchange is still under construction,” said an official.

Outside, commuters have to walk nearly 300 metres, navigating e-rickshaws parked near the R-Cube Monad mall and crossing heavy traffic at the intersection. There is also a lack of signage guiding commuters to the other station.

“I had to ask an e-rickshaw driver for directions to the other metro station,” said Vishesh Batra, 29, a sales associate.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated two new metro corridors in Delhi on March 8 — a 12.3km Pink Line extension from Majlis Park to Maujpur-Babarpur and the 9.9km Magenta Line stretch between Deepali Chowk and Majlis Park.

HT had reported on March 14 that of the 10 new Pink Line stations on the Majlis Park to Maujpur-Babarpur extension, trains do not stop at the Soorghat station in north Delhi as the stations entry/exit ways are still undr construction.

The new Magenta Line stretch has seven stations, including three interchanges — Madhuban Chowk (Red Line), Haiderpur Badli Mor (Yellow Line), and Majlis Park (Pink Line).

This section is part of the planned 29.3km Janakpuri West–RK Ashram Marg corridor, which will have 22 stations. Currently, the Magenta Line operates from Botanical Garden to Krishna Park Extension. The new stretch is not yet directly connected to the main line and is functioning as a separate extension in north and northwest Delhi.