Red Line Metro may go up to Ghaziabad railway stn

GHAZIABAD: Officials of the Ghaziabad development authority (GDA) said on Friday that they have written to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) asking them to prepare a feasibility report to extend the Delhi Metro’s Red Line from its last station--new Bus Adda--to Ghaziabad railway station.

Officials said they want to improve the connectivity of the Red Line with the Ghaziabad railway station. The station is poised to be redeveloped into a model city centre station at an estimated cost of about ₹1,000 crore.

The proposed project will provide passengers with modern amenities and commercial facilities, said officials.

“We want to extend the Red Line of the Delhi Metro to the railway station keeping in mind the future developments at the station. We have asked the DMRC to give us a feasibility report on whether the extension is possible, and if it is, whether the connectivity will be elevated or underground,” said Krishna Karunesh, the authority’s vicechairperson.

Currently, the Red Line of the Delhi Metro has eight stations in Ghaziabad and is constructed on an elevated section built on pillars at the median of GT Road.

“The Thakurdwara flyover (also constructed on the median of GT Road) is standing in the way of extending the Metro till Ghaziabad railway station. Hence, a feasibility report has been sought. We are concerned that the point where the Metro will terminate (after the extension) is at some distance, about 300-400 metres, from GT Road,” said the vice-chairperson.

Officials said the estimated cost of extending the Metro per kilometre will be around ₹300400 crore while an urban passenger ropeway system would cost around ₹90-100 crore.

“We are considering the ropeway system too, as it has a wider reach and will help passengers disembark near the railway station. We are just waiting for the feasibility report from the DMRC,” said Karunesh.

In September, the Ghaziabad Development Authority also got a detailed project report prepared for the installation of the urban passenger ropeway system to connect Mohan Nagar Metro station on the Red Line to Vaishali Metro station on the DMRC’S Blue Line. The ropeway system to connect the two Metro stations is estimated to cost about ₹487 crore