Metro heritage Line to open for public use by monthend

CONNECTIVITY BOOST New stretch to decongest Rajiv Chowk, make Kashmere Gate biggest interchange station

Metro commuters will be able to ride between ITO and Kashmere Gate stations of the Heritage Line (Violet Line) by the end of May.

Trains on the Violet Line at present run between ITO and Escorts Mujesar in Faridabad.

A stretch between Central Secretariat and ITO and another between Badarpur and Escorts Mujesar was thrown open for public use under DMRC’s Phase III expansion earlier.

The Commissioner for Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) will inspect the remaining portion (ITOKashmere Gate) on May 22 and May 23 and if everything is in order, the DMRC will get the go ahead to open the line for commuters.

The new heritage corridor will connect old Delhi areas such as Daryaganj, Delhi Gate and Red Fort with the business hub of Delhi at Janpath.

The line was originally slated to open in December last year but was delayed due to several reasons, including a two-week construction ban in the Capital owing to high air pollution in November, absence of workers after demonetisation and a general delay in the Phase III schedule.

The legacy of Shahjahanabad will be showcased in four metro stations in Shahjahanabad area, using an independent theme for each of the four stations.

The narrative of the legacy is structured thematically in a manner that each station will offer the viewer a different glimpse of a defining attribute of the Walled City.

“In March, the DMRC submitted the papers pertaining to the 5.17km long section from ITO to Kashmere Gate to the commissioner for Metro Railway Safety for scrutiny. DMRC has also submitted papers to ISA (Independent Safety Assessor) for safety certification of signalling systems. The documents has been scrutinised by the CMRS office and thereafter inspection has been planned next week. The line will be opened for public after safety certification of signalling system by ISA,” said a DMRC official.

The Heritage Line was given clearance by the National Monuments Authority on February 13, 2013.

After the Heritage Line is opened, Kashmere Gate will emerge as the biggest interchange station, with passengers travelling on Rithala-Dilshad Garden, Samaipur Badli-HUDA city center and Faridabad line having an option of changing trains from here instead of going to Rajeev Chowk. Rajeev Chowk, which caters to over 5 lakh commuters every day, will be decongested and DMRC is expecting that the daily footfall there will reduce to 3.5 lakh.

In August last year, Delhi Metro had started the trial run on this section.

The line will decongest the Central Secretariat and Rajeev Chowk stations and help passengers save up to 30 minutes of travel time.