Aerial view of Botanical Garden Metro Station in Noida

What does 278 + 78 kms of Delhi metro mean?

Delhi-NCR has country’s largest metro network. We will be as big as Shanghai/ London, and 2/3rd of Beijing.

However, it is still half the job done.

Majenta line is complete and running

• It’s 38 kms long.
• It runs from Botanical Garden, Noida to Janakpuri, New Delhi.
• It has 22 stations, and deepest station ( 5 stories)
• It reduces the travel time between Noida to South Delhi ( 30 mins) or to Gurgaon ( 50 mins), and from West Delhi to Gurgaon( 50 mins) or South Delhi ( 30 mins).

Why is it job half done?
Still, more than half the population of Delhi-NCR ( 61 lakh bikes + 30 lakh cars) uses personal vehicles. Last mile connectivity costs as much or 2/3 times more as the main journey.
Delhi Metro fairs are amongst the world’s highest. Unless it is cheaper to reach Metro stations, and the last mile destinations, it will not solve our problems.

For example Noida To Guragon:

• INR 60 is the cost of normal ticket from Botanical Garden to HUDA City Centre.
• INR 60 is the cost of 2- 5km ride by auto rickshaw.
• Any journey involves the 2x the cost of travel by metro.

Inadequate public transport:

• There are just 272 buses per 10 lakh people in Delhi.
• The world average is 600 buses per 10 lakh people. Only Andaman & Nicobar has it.
• Delhi needs more than 12,000 buses. Instead, it has less than 500 buses.
• Also, we just have 91,000 taxis and 2 lakh auto rickshaws.
• Finally, there is not enough tracks for cycles and walking.

How does it impact local businesses?
With the wider metro network, and last mile connectivity business will be able to do away with the following constraints.

• Lack of freedom to move creates constraints such as hiring the right talent.
• Secondary constraints such as affordable and good housing also restrict businesses from hiring the right people.
• Approachable commercial work places. Right now it is costly to work from business districts in Delhi. With the new lines, taking up office spaces in cheaper places such as Noida will be possible.

Eye in the sky: Interesting aerial images of current and upcoming metro stations.