Delhi Chief Minister Atishi announced on Sunday that the city’s Metro network has expanded 1.5 times faster over the past decade under the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government compared to the years before 2014. She also revealed that construction on the Lajpat Nagar-Saket and Indraprastha-Inder Lok lines will begin shortly.
Advanced Driverless Trains to Be Operational Soon
Speaking at a press conference after inspecting the first set of Phase IV trains at Mukundpur depot, Atishi highlighted the advanced technology of the new driverless trains, which she described as “among the most sophisticated in the world.” She noted that these trains are expected to become operational within the next three to four months.
Atishi pointed to significant growth in daily Metro ridership, which has increased from 24 lakh in 2014 to 60 lakh in 2024. “On Monday, we hit a record ridership of 78 lakh commuters,” she stated. She credited Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s leadership for the accelerated pace of expansion, adding, “From 1998 to 2014, 193 km of Metro lines were constructed. In the past 10 years under AAP, the network has expanded by 200 km, bringing the total number of stations from 143 in 2014 to 288 today.”
Currently, three Phase IV Metro lines are under construction: Tuhalaqabad-Aerocity, RK Ashram-Janakpuri West, and Mukundpur-Maujpur Extension. Atishi also mentioned that the tendering process for the Lajpat Nagar-Saket and Indraprastha-Inder Lok lines is ongoing, with work expected to begin soon.
The Chief Minister emphasized that the Metro network expansion has bolstered Delhi’s economy while also contributing to pollution control efforts. “The Metro expansion has not only eased transportation for millions but also plays a vital role in reducing air pollution in the capital,” she said.