Phase 2 of Gurgaon’s Rapid Metro starts today

The Phase-II of Rapid Metro will be launched at 3pm on Friday, making the commute to golf course and golf course extension road smoother and reducing the public transport woes in the city where last mileconnectivity remains a problem.

The second phase has five stations at DLF Phase-1, Sushant Lok, Sector 53/54, AIT Chowk and Sector 55/56.

The line starts from Sikanderpur Metro station that is connected to the Delhi Metro Station on the Yellow Line near Bristol Chowk and terminates at Golf Course Extension T-junction.

Seven trains will be running on the 6.7-km-long track. HT had reported in November 2016 and in February that the second phase is expected to commence in March-April.

A train will be flagged off from DLF Phase-1 rapid metro station, located opposite Mega Mall, following which the service will be thrown open to the public, an official said.

Until now, Rapid Metro had six stations on a 6.1 km track— Sikanderpur, DLF Phase-2, Belvedere Towers, Cyber City, Phase-3 and Moulsari Avenue.

Construction work for the second phase started in April 2013 and it was expected to get completed by the end of 2015, However, because of delay in road- widening project, shifting of gas line and underpass project, the second phase missed many deadlines.

The Rapid Metro was launched in 2013 and is India’s first fully privately funded Metro service.

“At present the Rapid Metro has an average daily ridership of 35,000-40,000 which is expected to double after the phase 2 starts ,” said a spokesperson of Rapid Metro said.

The residents of Golf Course said it will reduce traffic congestion. “Commuting will be easy in the area after the phase-2 starts. It is difficult to get last mile connectivity here,” said Subir Ghosh, resident of Sushant Lok.

Harsh Jaidka, a resident of Sector 28, said, “It is difficult to travel during peak hours on the Golf Course road and MG Road. With the opening of second phase, I am hoping the traffic congestion will be eased.”

THE RAPID METRO WAS LAUNCHED IN 2013 AND IS INDIA’S FIRST FULLY PRIVATELY FUNDED METRO SERVICE