The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has announced a new elevated corridor aimed at significantly improving connectivity in South Delhi and sharply reducing travel time between Noida, Delhi and Faridabad.
According to DMRC, the proposed Golden Line elevated extension will connect Tughlakabad with Kalindi Kunj, covering a distance of 3.9 kilometres. The corridor will have only four stations, two of which are already operational, with two additional stations to be added in between. Once completed, the stretch is expected to cut travel time between Tughlakabad and Kalindi Kunj to just 10-12 minutes.
DMRC officials said the project is being developed to meet the growing commuting needs of South Delhi and to ease pressure on the city’s road network. The corridor is expected to benefit thousands of daily commuters by offering a faster alternative to heavily congested arterial roads, particularly along the Yamuna riverfront.
At present, although Delhi and Noida are connected by two metro lines, journeys from Noida City Centre to areas such as Tughlakabad or the Badarpur border can take between 1-1.5 hours. The most commonly used route via the Blue Line and Violet Line requires an interchange at Mandi House, passes through 31 stations, and takes around 1 hour and 23 minutes, often making the commute long and exhausting.
Another option involves a combination of the Blue, Magenta and Violet lines, covering 18 stations but requiring two interchanges. Passengers travelling from Noida City Centre have to switch to the Magenta Line at Botanical Garden and then walk nearly 300 metres at Kalkaji Mandir to change to the Violet Line for Badarpur, adding to the inconvenience.
With the Phase 5 Golden Line corridor in place, travel from Noida to South Delhi is expected to become significantly quicker. DMRC estimates that the journey from Noida City Centre to Tughlakabad will take less than 20–25 minutes. From Botanical Garden to Tughlakabad, commuters will pass through just four stations, while the entire City Centre to Badarpur border route will involve only eight stations.
The new corridor is also expected to provide relief to motorists who regularly face traffic snarls at Kalindi Kunj, particularly while commuting between Badarpur and Noida.
