In five years, Metro to link four major NCR universities

The new Metro line connecting Janakpuri West with Botanical Garden in Noida - proposed to be laid under phase 3 - will cater to about 40,000 students of four prominent universities of the national capital region (NCR). Subhendu Ray reports.

The new Metro line connecting Janakpuri West with Botanical Garden in Noida - proposed to be laid under phase 3 - will cater to about 40,000 students of four prominent universities of the national capital region (NCR).

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The 36-km-proposed corridor - expected to become operational in the next five years - is going to be the first Metro route that would ease commuting for a large section of students of prime universities.

The four universities - Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) at Outer Ring Road, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) at the crossing of Aurobindo Marg and Outer Ring Road, Jamia Millia Islamia at Jamia Nagar and Amity University in Noida - would be covered by the Janakpuri West--Botanical Garden corridor of the Delhi Metro network, said Anuj Dayal, spokesperson, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).

"These are NCR's major educational hubs which will get Metro connectivity for the first time. While IIT and Amity University will have dedicated stations by the same name, the Munirka station will cater to JNU, which will be within a distance of about a kilometre. The Jamia Nagar station will cater to the Jamia Millia Islamia," Dayal said.

Says Megha Sidhra, an arts student who stays at Jeevan Park near Janakpuri, "Thousands of students would not have to face the daily pain of commuting that we are facing now."

At present, 20% of the 17lakh daily Metro commuters are in the age group of 18 to 25 years, most of which are college or university students, according to a recent survey of Delhi Metro.