Latest Metro line to start this week

A small but very significant extension of Line 5 (Inderlok-Mundka) of Delhi Metro that connects Kirti Nagar with Ashok Vihar is going to open some time this week.

A small but very significant extension of Line 5 (Inderlok-Mundka) of Delhi Metro that connects Kirti Nagar with Ashok Vihar is going to open some time this week.

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Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has conducted extensive trial runs on the 3.3 km stretch for over a month. The commissioner for Metro Rail Safety (MRS), RK Kardam, will inspect the safety measures on the system on Wednesday and the Metro will open the stretch for use immediately after receiving the safety clearance.

"We are hopeful of getting a safety clearance within a day and open the stretch for public within a couple of days," said a DMRC official of DMRC. The line was initially scheduled to start in June.

Once open, this section will provide connectivity to Line 1 (Rithala to Dilshad Garden) and Line-3 (Dwarka Sec-21 to Noida City Centre/Anand Vihar) as Ashok Park Main and Kirti Nagar Metro stations will work as interchange stations for Line 1 and Line 3, respectively.

With the opening of the section all works pertaining to Phase II of the Delhi Metro Project will be completed. The Kirti Nagar-Ashok Park Metro section would mean the total Metro network will touch 190 km.

"This stretch is expected to increase Metro ridership by at least one lakh. The existing average footfall on Line 5 is 80,000 at present," said a spokesperson.