Noida-Greater Noida Aqua Line likely to begin operations from December 25, five things you need to know

The Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC) is likely to begin services on the Aqua Line on December 25, according to a Hindustan Times report. The Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) completed the final round of safety inspection of the Noida-Greater Noida Aqua line. Everything was found to be up to the mark barring a few defects, according to reports. The NMRC had inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), which will assist the NMRC in operating the Aqua Line corridor in the first year. Additionally, this is one of the first metro lines to become active in the Greater Noida region.

Last week, a CMRS team inspected the various metro stations and the speed of Metro coaches near the Noida-Greater Noida expressway. The 29.7-km Aqua Line has 21 stations. Following the clearance from the CMRS, the metro corridor is likely to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on this Christmas, bringing cheer to residents of Greater Noida West.

READ | Delhi Metro Magenta line services affected after glitch in signalling

On December 4, the second phase of the Metro link from Noida Sector 71 to Knowledge Park 5 in Greater Noida was approved by the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA). The extension will comprise nine stations and cost Rs 2602 crore, according to officials.

5 points about Noida-Greater Noida Aqua Line:

1. The Aqua Line will start from Noida Sector 52 and will run through sectors 50, 51, 75, 76, 78, 101, 81, 83, 85, 137, 142, 143, 144, 147, 149 and 153.

2. The Aqua Line will have an interchange station with the Delhi Metro's Blue Line (towards Dwarka) at Noida Sector 52 Metro station. Delhi Metro, commuters will have to change trains and purchase separate tokens in order to use both the networks.

3. Aqua Line will enter Greater Noida and will go through Knowledge Park-II, Pari Chowk, Alpha-1 and Alpha-2, before terminating at Knowledge Park-IV.

4. The trains are designed to run at a maximum speed of 80 km per hour with an average speed of 37.5 km per hour.

5. Every train is equipped with a passenger information system, a public address system, and an emergency announcement system from the operation control centre. Besides, all the stations are equipped with platform screen doors.

Read | Mumbai: PM to lay foundation stone for 2 Metro projects, 90,000 housing units in Thane

Besides, the Delhi Metro network is going to get more intricate with operations starting in two more corridors by the end of the month. The two other corridors set to be opened are the 9.7-km stretch connecting Lajpat Nagar to Mayur Vihar Pocket 1 on the Pink Line and the 9.4-km stretch from Dilshad Garden to New Bus Adda extension of the Red Line. The Dilshad Garden-New Bus Adda line will touch the interior parts of Ghaziabad. The elevated section will comprise eight stations: Shahid Nagar, Raj Bagh, Rajendra Nagar, Shyam Park, Mohan Nagar, Arthala, Hindon River Station and New Bus Adda. The opening of this 50-km-long combined corridor will finally mark the completion of the Delhi Metro's much-anticipated Phase-III project.