New Delhi, Sep 3 (IANS) It was a day of desires being fulfilled for residents of south Delhi with the opening of the Metro’s Central Secretariat-Qutub Minar section, connecting north Delhi to the satellite town of Gurgaon.
As the 12.53 km Central Secretariat-Qutub Minar link was thrown open to the public Friday afternoon, thousands of people thronged various stations for a ride.

The line was already functional between Central Secretariat and Jehangirpuri in north Delhi and between Qutub Minar and the HUDA Centre in Gurgaon

A cross section of people — labourers, students and professionals — and DMRC officials travelled on the first train that left the Udyog Bhavan, the first station after Central Secretariat, at 3 p.m.

Harsh Agarwal, a class 8 student, and three of his friends from the Red Roses Public School were a happy lot as they now won’t have to take a crowded Blueline bus to school. “The new line is a boon for us as we three stay in Green Park we will take the Metro every day to our school in Saket,” Agarwal winked.

Delhi University students Megha Sharma and Divya Chopra were happy that their pocket money will saved, as they frequently shell out a lot on autos as the buses are often crowded. “During heavy rains it gets tougher in travelling by bus,” Chopra added.

Many college students felt that the 10 percent discount on the travel card should be raised by 5 percent for students.

Office workers were equally elated.

“I am really excited. I came half-an-hour early to catch the Metro and from today, I don’t have to depend on buses to reach INA where my office is and my home in Gurgaon. Now, I can reach my office in less than 45 minutes,” Apporva Jain said as she hopped on to the Metro train.

Vijay Garg, who works in the health ministry, said: “My money is saved big time, as every month I spend around Rs.3,500 on petrol. But now it will be around Rs 800 a month.”

“No more car. Only Metro. Earlier it took two hours for me to reach my office. But now, I will reach office in 45 minutes. I can save both time and money,” Garg said.

With the new 12.53 km long underground Central Secretariat-Qutub Minar link, the Metro network has expanded to 138 kms with 117 stations.