Cabinet clears Delhi Metro Phase 5A project worth Rs 12,015 crore

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved Phase 5A of the Delhi Metro project at a cost of Rs 12,015 crore, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said while briefing reporters on Cabinet decisions.

The approved phase will add around 16 km to the Delhi Metro network, comprising 13 stations, of which 10 will be underground and three elevated.

Vaishnaw said the project is expected to be completed within three years. With this expansion, the total length of the Delhi Metro network will exceed 400 km once the project is operational.

According to official details, the Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, cleared three new corridors under Phase V(A): R.K. Ashram Marg to Indraprastha (9.913 km), Aerocity to IGD Airport Terminal-1 (2.263 km), and Tughlakabad to Kalindi Kunj (3.9 km).

The combined length of these corridors is 16.076 km, and the total project cost has been estimated at Rs 12,014.91 crore. Funding will be sourced from the Government of India, the Government of Delhi, and international funding agencies.

Officials said the Central Vista corridor will provide metro access to the Kartavya Bhawans, offering doorstep connectivity for office-goers and visitors in the area. Once operational, around 60,000 office workers and nearly two lakh visitors are expected to benefit daily. The new corridors are also expected to reduce road congestion, pollution, and fossil fuel usage.

The R.K. Ashram Marg–Indraprastha stretch will extend the existing Botanical Garden–R.K. Ashram Marg corridor and connect the redeveloped Central Vista area with other parts of the city. The Aerocity–IGD Airport Terminal-1 and Tughlakabad–Kalindi Kunj sections will extend the Aerocity–Tughlakabad corridor, improving airport connectivity with southern Delhi, including areas such as Saket and Kalindi Kunj.

Once completed, the R.K. Ashram Marg–Indraprastha corridor will enhance links between West, North and Old Delhi with Central Delhi. The other two corridors will connect South Delhi to Domestic Airport Terminal-1 via areas including Saket and Chattarpur, significantly improving intra-city connectivity.

Officials said these extensions of the Magenta Line and the Golden Line are expected to ease traffic congestion, cut vehicular pollution and contribute to economic activity in the national capital.

Stations planned along the R.K. Ashram Marg–Indraprastha section include R.K. Ashram Marg, Shivaji Stadium, Central Secretariat, Kartavya Bhawan, India Gate, War Memorial–High Court, Baroda House, Bharat Mandapam and Indraprastha. The Tughlakabad–Kalindi Kunj corridor will have stations at Sarita Vihar Depot, Madanpur Khadar and Kalindi Kunj, while the Aerocity station will be extended to IGD Terminal-1.

Meanwhile, construction under Delhi Metro’s Phase-IV project, covering 111 km and 83 stations, is ongoing. Officials said around 80.43% of civil construction work on the three priority corridors has been completed, with phased commissioning expected by December 2026.

At present, Delhi Metro handles an average of 65 lakh passenger journeys daily, with the highest-ever ridership of 81.87 lakh recorded on August 8, 2025. The network currently consists of 12 lines spanning about 395 km with 289 stations across Delhi and the NCR, making it the largest metro system in India and one of the largest globally.