The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) will be adding 103 km to its network in Phase III of construction.
The section is scheduled to be completed by 2016, costing Rs 35, 242 crore ($7 billion).
Speaking at a press conference discussing metro rail projects in the country, Union Minister for Urban Development, Kamal Nath said:
“Phase III is the largest infrastructure project ever sanctioned in the country. We have already decided to expand the networks further by directing DMRC to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for Phase IV, which is likely to add another 104 km to the metro network.”
Phase III is tentatively composed of two new lines and three extensions, covering 67 new stations and 103km of new track.
The new routes under consideration include 5.5 km between Dwarka and Najafgarh, 2.7 km between Yamuna Vihar and Shiv Vihar and another 11.5 km between Mundka and Bahadurgarh.
“As urbanisation is taking place, there is an immediate need for better mobility services, such as Delhi Metro for safe public transport system,” Nath added.
Delhi Metro has invited applications for the design of an Overhead Equipment system for elevated corridors for the project.
After operations, trains will run at very short frequencies of 2 minutes as it will be using an advanced signalling system.
More than 1.8 million people travel by the Delhi Metro daily.
By 2016, it will have 312 km of network and by 2021 after completion of Phase IV, it will become one of the longest metro service networks in the world.
Currently, DMRC runs 2,500 train trips with 199 trains comprising 922 coaches. Next year, by May 2012, DMRC will be adding 212 coaches more to their networks.
