The Union Cabinet has approved the Delhi Metro Phase 5A project, paving the way for a 16-km expansion of the capital’s mass rapid transit system. The project will add 13 new stations and is estimated to cost ₹12,015 crore, with construction scheduled to be completed over the next three years.
According to the Press Information Bureau, 10 of the 13 stations under Phase 5A will be underground, while three will be elevated. Once these corridors become operational, the total length of the Delhi Metro network will surpass the 400-km mark, a significant milestone for one of the world’s largest urban transit systems.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the move as a "major boost" to the development of Delhi's infrastructure.
"Cabinet's approval for three new corridors as part of Delhi Metro's Phase V(A) Project will expand our capital's metro network, thus boosting 'Ease of Living' and reducing congestion," said the PM in a post on X.
Three New Corridors Planned
The approved phase includes three separate corridors designed to strengthen connectivity across high-density and high-traffic zones in the national capital. The longest stretch will run from Ramakrishna Ashram Marg to Indraprastha, covering 9.9 km at a projected cost of ₹9,570.4 crore.
Another corridor will link Aerocity with Airport Terminal-1 over a distance of 2.3 km, with an estimated expenditure of ₹1,419.6 crore. The third stretch, spanning 3.9 km, will connect Tughlakabad to Kalindi Kunj and is expected to cost ₹1,024.8 crore.
Boost To Urban Mobility
Officials said the new corridors are aimed at improving connectivity in congested areas of Delhi, easing pressure on road networks and enhancing last-mile access to major residential, commercial and transit hubs. The expansion is expected to significantly reduce travel time for commuters while offering a reliable alternative to road transport.
Meanwhile, work on another key metro project is already underway. Earlier this month, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation formally launched construction on the Saket G Block–Lajpat Nagar stretch under Phase 4. The project began with a ground-breaking and first test piling ceremony for the elevated section of the Golden Line (Line-11) at Pushpa Bhawan near Saket.
The Saket G Block–Lajpat Nagar corridor, which is slated for completion by 2029, will span 8 km and branch off from the IGI Airport–Tughlakabad corridor at Saket G Block. It will feature eight elevated stations at Lajpat Nagar, Andrews Ganj, Greater Kailash-1, Chirag Delhi, Pushpa Bhawan, Saket District Centre, Pushp Vihar and Saket G Block.
Together, the approval of Phase 5A and progress on Phase 4 underline Delhi Metro’s continued expansion as the backbone of the capital’s public transport system, even as the city grapples with rising population and traffic demands.