Here’s the first look at Delhi Metro’s Magenta Line set to open on Monday

The Botanical Garden-Kalkaji Mandir section will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 25. The line will bring down the travel time between Noida and south Delhi to 19 minutes from over an hour.

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation’s Magenta Line, which will reduce the travel time between Noida and south Delhi to 19 minutes, is set to be opened for public from 5pm on December 25. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Botanical Garden-Kalkaji Mandir section on the line that is eventually going to extend till Janakpuri.

The platforms at all stations will have screen doors for safety of passengers. DMRC had installed such doors are only on the Airport Express Line thus far. (Faizan Haidar / HT Photo)

DMRC on Friday organised a media tour of the line that is touted as a metro corridor with many firsts. The new trains that can run without a driver will be put on tracks for the first time on Magenta Line. However, people will have to wait for two more years before these trains run on auto mode.

The platforms at all the nine stations will have screen doors for safety of passengers. DMRC had installed such doors are only on the Airport Express Line thus far. The seats will be coloured and there are backrests for those standing in the train. This is also the only line in the Delhi Metro network to have an interchange station in the NCR. Botanic Garden in Noida will allow passengers to go to Faridabad on Violet Line without having to travel to Mandi House first.

Though there was some panic earlier this week when a train meant for Magenta Line broke through a wall in a Metro depot, DMRC said there was no hold-up and public can travel on the line from Monday.

Here’s the first look of the line:

Initially, the frequency of the trains will be 5 minute 14 seconds with 10 trains being pressed into service.

Kalkaji Mandir station, the last on Magenta Line, is underground. It connects to the existing station through a foot overbridge. (Faizan Haidar / HT Photo)

DMRC said on Friday that the cost of the journey between Botanical Garden and Kalkaji Mandir will be Rs 30 against Rs 50 earlier due to the new interchange station.

Automatic token vending machines are embedded in the wall at every station on this line. (Faizan Haidar / HT Photo)

A DMRC spokesperson said the Kalkaji Mandir-Botanical Garden section will be opened for public from 5pm on Monday, December 25.

Seats of the new trains are colourful and more spacious with those reserved for women in different colour. (Faizan Haidar / HT Photo)

There will be provision to add more space. Equipments under the seats can be used to make space for an additional 12 passengers.

Trains have USB charging points. (Faizan Haidar / HT Photo)

“Trains are absolutely safe for operation. At the time of incident (when a train hit the wall), train was not on automated mode,” Delhi Metro’s spokesperson Anuj Dayal said.

The new trains have electronic display system. (Faizan Haidar / HT Photo)

Fully programmable LCD screens will display videos, graphics and other information.

The new Botanic Garden station is connected with the existing station of Dwarka- Noida line. (Faizan Haidar / HT Photo)

Extension of baggage scanners will help passengers in picking the baggage faster.

The 12.64-long Magenta Line corridor will have nine stations connecting Blue and Violet line of Delhi Metro. (Faizan Haidar / HT Photo)