New Delhi: A major year-end cheer is waiting for metro commuters of Delhi-NCR as the solar-powered Noida-Greater Noida Aqua Metro Line is likely to start its run from December 25. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who nearly a year ago came to Noida to inaugurate the Botanical Garden-Kalindi Kunj stretch on December 25, might once again visit the city to inaugurate the extension Noida-Greater Noida metro line (Aqua Line). Reportedly PM Modi will also inaugurate the extension of Rithala-Dilshad Garden metro to Bus Adda and the Noida-Greater Noida metro line. Currently, both the corridors are undergoing the last phase of trial runs and final inspection by the commissioner of metro rail safety (CMRS) is awaited. The Aqua line which will connect Noida with Greater Noida will run on solar power instead of the conventional power supply. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) will help the Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC) to run the new metro line for about one year.

However, there might also be some changes in the plans as on the same day prime minister is set to lay the foundation stone of the Jewar airport, an international airport planned to be constructed in Greater Noida.

According to a report by Times of India, Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) said that the work for the line is 99 per cent complete and December 25 would be an ideal day for the inauguration. “The idea is that the PM can inaugurate both the corridors on the same day, as he will be in the NCR,” the paper quoted an official as saying.

What areas will the two media corridors cover?

The newly constructed Aqua Line is 29.7 km long and it will start from Noida sector 52 metro station and will run through sectors including 50, 51 ,75 , 76, 78, 101, 81, 83, 85, 137, 142, 143, 144, 147, 149 and 153. The solar-powered metro line will also have an interchange station with the Delhi Metro at Noida Sector 52 metro station where extended Delhi Metro Red line – The extended Rithala – Dilshad Garden will join.

The extended section covers eight metro stations- Shaheed Nagar, Raj Bagh, Rajendra Nagar, Shyam Park, Mohan Nagar, Arthala, Hindon river, and Ghaziabad New Bus Stand metro stations.