By IANS,
New Delhi : The Delhi Metro entered another state for the first time when its link to Noida in adjoining Uttar Pradesh was flagged off Thursday. The link will open to the public Friday.
Urban Development Minister S. Jaipal Reddy and Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit flagged off the Yamuna Bank to Noida City Centre Metro corridor from the Akshardham Metro station.
“It is the first time Delhi Metro is entering another state and it is a great honour for DMRC (Delhi Metro Rail Corp),” Dikshit said after inaugurating the Noida section.
“Delhi Metro is stepping out of its confines and into the state of Uttar Pradesh. This will be the first step of getting the Metro into state of Uttar Pradesh,” she added.
The decision to open the section was taken after Metro Railway Safety Commissioner R.K. Kardam gave the safety clearance.
The DMRC estimates that 53,000 passengers will be added to its daily commuters once the Noida corridor opens.
Last month the DMRC said it wanted to open the section ahead of the India International Trade Fair, which begins in New Delhi Nov 14.
The Noida Metro corridor could bring about a drastic change in the travelling habits of thousands of people in trans-Yamuna areas — Mayur Vihar and Ashok Nagar in east Delhi and Noida — and is likely to ease traffic on the Noida Highway as well as at the ITO junction.
The Yamuna Bank-Noida City Centre Metro is an elevated stretch and has 10 stations. It will be integrated with the operational Yamuna Bank to Dwarka Sector-9 segment.
Said Jaipal Reddy said: “This is a historic line. I am very happy and proud to be associated with this occasion, that marks the extension of the legendary Delhi Metro beyond the NCR region.
“My ambition would be to go as far as possible from Delhi as far as the routes (Metro) are commercially viable for the public. People who visit India must make it a point to visit the metro facility,” Reddy added.
Regarding the increase in Metro fares, DMRC chief Sreedharan said: “The fare increased by 36 percent but the consumer price index increased by a lot more.”
To this, Reddy said the government was making available hundreds of acres of land to DMRC for largescale commercial exploitation so that DMRC may get additional revenue to keep fares at a certain level.
The minister further said that the security of the Metro in Uttar Pradesh will be looked after by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which looks after the security of all Metro establishments in the capital.