Thaindian News

New Delhi, Oct 26 (IANS) Delhi Metro Tuesday began trial runs between Sarita Vihar and Badarpur in south Delhi, paving the way for the entire Central Secretariat-Badrapur corridor to become operational next month.

At present, Metro services on the corridor are available between Central Secretariat and Sarita Vihar.

A Delhi Metro official said the trial runs on the five-kilometre stretch from Sarita Vihar to Badarpur would last a week. The stretch has three stations: Mohan Estate, Tughlakabad and Badarpur.

“The entire 20.16 km stretch from Central Secretariat to Badarpur is expected to open for public by the second week of November,” the official said.

The Central Secretariat-Sarita Vihar section was opened Oct 3, hours ahead of the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games.

“This line is one of the most challenging to construct for the Delhi Metro as the total time available for construction was very short - 41 months,” the official said.

The corridor is the second standard gauge Metro line after the Inderlok-Mundka section.

The Central Secretariat-Badarpur corridor will have 16 stations, of which Central Secretariat, Khan Market, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and Jangpura will be under ground.

Lajpat Nagar, Moolchand, Kailash Colony, Nehru Place, Kalkaji Mandir, Govindpuri, Okhla, Jasola, Sarita Vihar, Mohan Estate, Tughlakabad and Badarpur stations will be on the elevated corridor.