Noida Metro’s Aqua Line is now being extended to Greater Noida West, providing relief to lakhs of commuters from Noida and Greater Noida. This move will not only prove to be convenient for daily commuters but will also boost regional development.
The proposal for this project will soon be sent to the Public Investment Board (PIB). The metro extension will be completed in two phases, the metro track will be laid from Sector-51 to Sector-2 in the first phase, and from Greater Sector-2 to Greater Sector-5 in the second phase. An estimated more than four lakh people will directly benefit from this extension.
At present, the Aqua Line is operating from Sector-51 to Greater Noida Depot and will be extended to Sector-142 in future. The proposed extension will be 17.435 km long and will have a total of 11 stations. Of this, there will be three stations in the Noida area in a radius of 3.33 km, while eight stations are proposed in the Greater Noida area at 14.105 km, as reported by DNA.
The total cost of the project is estimated to be Rs 2,991.60 crore, with Noida contributing 33% and Greater Noida 67%.
About 1.23 lakh passengers are expected to travel on the new metro line every day. As per the funding structure, both the Uttar Pradesh government and the central government will contribute 12.97 per cent each. Also, the NCR Planning Board, Greater Noida Authority and Noida Authority will contribute a total of 44.98 per cent of the amount. The remaining funds will be met through GeoUP and GIA.
The construction of 11 stations on the new route will greatly improve regional connectivity. Sector-51 is the existing active station, while Sector-61 will be made an interchange hub. Other proposed stations include Sector-70, Sector-122, Sector-123, Greater Sector-4, Ecotech-12, Greater Sector-2, Greater Sector-3, Greater Sector-10, Greater Sector-12 and Knowledge Park-5.
PIB approval is required before construction work can begin. The presentation for this will be given in the last week of November or the first week of December. If everything goes as planned, construction work can begin within three months and civil work is likely to be completed by the end of next year, as reported by DNA.
Mahendra Prasad, executive director of Noida Metro Rail Corporation, said a new metro line is being planned through Greater Noida Extension, which will ease traffic pressure between Noida and Greater Noida, make travel faster and convenient, and also promote development of nearby areas.
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