Gurgaon Metro expansion: Haryana govt is considering these options for a new route

The Haryana government is looking at two options suggested in the DMRC’s feasibility report for a new route in Gurgaon. One route is about 12km while the other is around 27.5km long.

To expand Metro connectivity in Gurgaon, the Haryana government will look at two possible options given in a DMRC feasibility report about the creation of a new Metro route.

Gurgaon has 11 Metro stations (including rapid metro stations) which only cover areas near the Delhi border. (HT FILE)

The report, prepared for Haryana Mass Rapid Corporation by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and submitted early this month.

The shorter route, among the two options, is of roughly 12km. It starts from the existing Metro station at HUDA City Centre and goes up to Gurgaon Railway Station through Subhash Chowk, Rajiv Chowk and New Colony Mor.

The longer second option is around 27.5km. It also starts at HUDA City Centre and then heads to the Dwarka Sector 21 Metro station on DMRC’s Blue Line via Subhash Chowk, Hero Honda Chowk, Sectors 10A, 10, 9, 9A, ESI Hospital, Sector 4-5 crossing (covering Gurgaon Railway Station and adjoining areas), Palam Vihar, Sector 23, and Dwarka Sector 21.

These two routes are independent to another line proposed earlier. The alignment of that line starts at IFFCO Chowk Metro Station and heads to Dwarka Sector 21, for which the feasibility report has already been submitted.

The need for new line

Gurgaon has 11 Metro stations (including rapid metro stations) which only cover areas near the Delhi border. The city does not have an efficient public bus transport service, in its absence, Gurgaon residents have to rely on non-metered auto-rickshaws and cabs for their commute.

The areas covered under the two options given to the state government do not have Metro connectivity. Commuters have to board the Yellow Line of the Delhi Metro and get down at either the Rajiv Chowk or New Delhi Railway Station to change to the Blue Line or the Airport Express Line to reach their destination. However, the journey can usually exceed 100 minutes.

The Haryana government plans to provide direct Metro connectivity to Dwarka as well as expand its reach within Gurgaon.

Ridership concerns

As per the report, the expected ridership on the shorter proposed line by 2021 is estimated to be around 86,000, with a maximum of 20,000 people boarding at Subhash Chowk. The other stations are not expected to have high ridership. By 2031, the total ridership is estimated to be 1.85 lakh.

For the longer option, total ridership in 2021 is expected to be 2.87 lakh as the line is connected to HUDA City Centre and Dwarka Sector 21. The number of passengers using the line is expected to go up to 4.76 lakh by 2031.

According to the feasibility report, the capital cost estimated for the shorter route is ₹2,296 crores, while that for the longer route is ₹4,591 crores.

“The Haryana government had roped in the DMRC as consultants for the project. The Haryana Mass Rapid Corporation will be undertaking the project and will decide upon which route works out to be more feasible,” V Umashankar, additional chief executive of Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority said.