New Delhi Metro line raises to bring hospitals, stadiums closer to commuters

Sixty two-year-old Ramesh Manohar was diagnosed with severe arthritis. He has been getting his physiotherapy done from one of Delhi’s referral hospitals, Lok Nayak on Jawaharlal Nehru Marg.

Sixty two-year-old Ramesh Manohar was diagnosed with severe arthritis. He has been getting his physiotherapy done from one of Delhi’s referral hospitals, Lok Nayak on Jawaharlal Nehru Marg.

With the announcement of the completion of Delhi Metro’s new line, touching Delhi Gate — which is barely a few metres away from the hospital — travel will become easier for this resident of east Delhi’s New Seemapuri. (Hindustan Times)

With swollen knees, Manohar takes a bus twice every month for his medical appointments.

With the announcement of the completion of Delhi Metro’s new line, touching Delhi Gate — which is barely a few metres away from the hospital — travel will become easier for this resident of east Delhi’s New Seemapuri.

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“I take a bus from near my house, which drops me till Kashmere Gate, from where I take another bus. I hear now that with the new station, I might not have to exert so much,” Manohar said.

Delhi Gate, the stretch that connects Old and New Delhi, is a hub for government healthcare facilities. On Jawaharlal Nehru Road, along with LNJP Hospital, are the GB Pant Multi-Specialty Hospital and Guru Nanak Eye Centre.

“The coming of the metro here will make the hospital more accessible to patients,” said Dr Savitri Sinha, assistant head of department (AHOD), gynaecology, at Lok Nayak Hospital.

Among Delhi’s other best facilities, Maulana Azad Medical College’s (MAMC) dental wing, is less than a kilometre away from the upcoming Delhi Gate station.

Delhi Traffic Police officials said commuters on the road will benefit with the coming of the new line. The traffic on Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg and Netaji Subhash Marg is likely to ease.

“Every day over 1lakh vehicles cross the Delhi Gate junction. With the construction activities on, managing traffic was nightmarish,” a senior traffic official said.

The line will give access to Daryaganj, which is perhaps the world largest publishing hub. It is home to hundreds of publishers, including international names such as Oxford University Press and Cambridge University Press.

“We believe arrival of the metro will the help decongest the area,” said SC Sethi, president, The Federation of Publishers’ and Booksellers’ Associations in India.

Sports enthusiasts are also excited about the development, as the Delhi Gate station will make it easier to reach Firoz Shah Kotla and Ambedkar Stadium.