Good News for Delhi Metro commuters! Cabinet clears Rs 12,015 crore Phase V expansion; 13 stations planned

Delhi Metro Phase V: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved Delhi Metro Phase V (A), clearing a Rs 12,014.91 crore expansion aimed at strengthening connectivity across the national capital.

The project involves the construction of three new corridors with a combined length of 16.076 km. Funding will come from the Government of India, the Government of Delhi and international funding agencies. The project will be implemented by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).

Three new corridors approved

Under Phase V (A), the Cabinet approved the following corridors:
• R.K. Ashram Marg to Indraprastha (9.913 km)
• Aerocity to IGD Airport Terminal-1 (2.263 km)
• Tughlakabad to Kalindi Kunj (3.9 km)

Together, these corridors will add 13 new stations to the Delhi Metro network. Of these, 10 stations will be underground and three will be elevated.

Central Vista connectivity boost

The R.K. Ashram Marg–Indraprastha corridor will extend the Botanical Garden–R.K. Ashram Marg line and provide direct Metro connectivity to the Central Vista area, which is currently under redevelopment.

This corridor will connect key Kartavya Bhawans and is expected to benefit around 60,000 office-goers and nearly 2 lakh visitors on a daily basis. The government said this will provide doorstep Metro access to major administrative offices.

Airport and south Delhi link strengthened

The Aerocity–IGD Airport Terminal-1 and Tughlakabad–Kalindi Kunj sections will extend the Aerocity–Tughlakabad corridor. These lines will improve airport connectivity with south Delhi areas such as Saket, Chhatarpur, Tughlakabad and Kalindi Kunj.

After completion, these corridors will link south Delhi directly with Domestic Airport Terminal-1, significantly improving travel convenience for passengers.

Stations planned under Phase V (A)

Stations on the R.K. Ashram Marg–Indraprastha stretch will include R.K. Ashram Marg, Shivaji Stadium, Central Secretariat, Kartavya Bhawan, India Gate, War Memorial–High Court, Baroda House, Bharat Mandapam and Indraprastha.

The Tughlakabad–Kalindi Kunj section will include Sarita Vihar Depot, Madanpur Khadar and Kalindi Kunj. The Aerocity station will be further connected to IGD Terminal-1.

Economic and environmental impact

The government said the Phase V (A) extensions of the Magenta Line and Golden Line will reduce road congestion, lower pollution and cut fossil fuel usage. The project is also expected to boost economic activity in Central Delhi and around the domestic airport.

Phase IV work underway

Construction of Delhi Metro Phase IV, covering 111 km and 83 stations, is currently in progress. About 80.43 per cent of civil construction work on the three priority corridors has been completed. These corridors are expected to be completed in stages by December 2026.

At present, Delhi Metro handles an average of 65 lakh passenger journeys per day. The highest-ever ridership recorded was 81.87 lakh passenger journeys on August 8, 2025.

DMRC currently operates 12 Metro lines spanning around 395 km with 289 stations across Delhi and the NCR. Delhi Metro remains the largest Metro network in India and one of the largest globally.