6.36 km link added to Delhi Metro Rail

New Delhi: Another 6.36 km of new rail link was added to Delhi Metro’s existing rail network taking the total length of operating metro rail in the city to 74.5 km.

The new link Vishwavidyalaya to Jahangirpuri is the second metro line of Delhi Metro’s Phase-II extension, which is being opened to the public nine months ahead of its target launch date.

“The cost of constructing the 6.36 km of new metro link is about Rs 790 crore.

This includes construction cost of about Rs 180 crore for the five new stations as well,” Mr Vijay Anand, Director (Projects), Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said.

“In 2009, DMRC will add another 40 km of metro network in the National Capital Region,” said Mr E. Sreedharan, Managing Director, at a press conference.

This includes the Inderlok – Mundka; Indraprastha - Noida Sector 32; and Yamuna Bank-Anand Vihar ISBT links

One of the five stations in the link inaugurated has been built on a build-operate-transfer (BoT) basis by real estate player Parsvnath Developers.

“For getting the commercial rights to build a mall and operate it for 30 years in the Azadpur metro station, Parsvnath built the metro station at its own costs, and will also pay an agreed-upon amount to DMRC,” said Mr Mangu Singh, Director (Works), DMRC.

The company will pay Rs 16 crore to DMRC upfront and another Rs 2 crore or so every year for the 30-year period.

DMRC is currently working on Phase-II expansion which envisages building 125 km of metro rail network. The new link was inaugurated by the Delhi Chief Minister, Ms Sheila Dikshit.