There is good news for the metro commuters as passenger operations on the 8.10 kilometre long Durgabai Deshmukh South Campus – Lajpat Nagar Metro corridor were formally flagged off today. The corridor comprises a total of six stations, Sir Vishveshwaraiah Moti Bagh, Bhikaji Cama Place, Sarojini Nagar, INA, South Extension and Lajpat Nagar. The newly inaugurated section is a continuation of the presently operational Pink Line Metro from Majlis Park to Durgabai Deshmukh South Campus. With the opening of the particular section for commuters four major markets of the national capital, Sarojini Nagar, INA, South Extension and Lajpat Nagar, have been connected with the metro routes directly. With the inauguration of the new corridor, the total route for DMRC network has been extended to 296 kilometres covering a total of 214 metro stations.
In this route there are interchange stations like Rajouri Garden, INA and Lajpat Nagar. The first corridor of the Pink Line from Majlis Park to Durgabai Deshmukh South Campus was opened earlier in March this year. It connected the north and south campuses of the Delhi University on the DMRC network for the first time.
Today, the corridor was inaugurated by Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Housing and Urban Affairs and Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister of Delhi in the presence of Anant Kumar, the Union Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers and Parliamentary Affairs. On the occasion the Ambassador of Japan to India, Kenji Hiramatsu, and the Managing Director of DMRC, Dr Mangu Singh, were also present.
Addressing the gathering, Hardeep Singh Puri said, “Metro serves a very useful purpose because it takes the pressure off private means of conveyance and transports more number of people via an efficient, green mode of public transport.” Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal applauded DMRC for opening of the section and said, “It is a day of happiness for the people of Delhi as this section will connect the city’s prominent markets by Metro. The problem of parking in these markets will also be solved. ”
