Noida Metro's Aqua line linking Noida-Greater Noida opens for public

Noida (Urban Transport News): The much-awaited metro rail linking the twin-cities of Gautam Budh District of Uttar Pradesh is finally opened for the public today. UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath flagged off the 29.7 km long Aqua Line of Noida Metro linking Noida and Greater Noida with the high density of population area of the NCR. The metro train on aqua line corridor will ruin between Noida Sector 71 station in Noida and the Depot Station in Greater Noida.

The Aqua line metro will cover a total of 21 stations on the entire corridor out of 15 are in Noida and rest 6 stations in Greater Noida - spread over a distance of 29.7-km. Here are the glimpses of the inauguration and the beautiful aqua line metro- "Today we dedicate the Noida Greater Noida metro rail to the people of the region. The Aqua Line, which has been completed in record time, will provide better connectivity to the region and prove to a milestone in the development of the region," said Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh.

"Connectivity with Delhi is set to improve further as just a few days back the Union Cabinet approved the 9.41 km extension of the Delhi Metro corridor from Dilshad Garden to New Bus Adda Ghaziabad worth ₹1,710 crore", said Hardeep Singh Puri, Ministry of State for Housing & Urban Affairs. "In a major thrust to urban mobility in Uttar Pradesh, Hon'ble CM Shri Yogi Adityanath Ji inaugurated the Aqua Line Metro between Noida & Greater Noida & simultaneously announced the plan to extend it by another 12 km to West Gr Noida/Noida Extension. I am delighted at this announcement which will serve over two lakh people of the area. I now look forward to the proposal for this extension from UP Govt for a speedy sanction", Puri added.

"A large population of Greater Noida will be benefitted from the opening of this metro line as presently these twin cities are connected by road transport only." - MoS H&UA @HardeepSPuri pic.twitter.com/qhG4AP9VRF

— MoHUA (@MoHUA_India) January 25, 2019

The Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC) received safety clearance for launching commercial operations from the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS) in December 2018 after final and mandatory safety inspection of the corridor. Initially, for a period of one year, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) who has given consultancy for the entire project will assist the NMRC to operate the train on the Aqua line. The Noida Metro Rail Corporation, which will have 19 rakes with four cars each on Aqua line, will halt on the Sector 76, 101, 81, NSEZ, Noida Sector 83, 137, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, and Greater Noida's Knowledge Park II, Pari Chowk, Alpha 1, Delta 1, GNIDA Office and Depot metro stations. However, a major concern among the people has been that the interchange stations of the Delhi Metro-operated Blue Line and the Noida Metro's Aqua Line are not seamless.

Meanwhile, the commuters will have to get down at the Noida Sector 52 metro station of the Delhi Metro's Blue Line, which will further get extended to the Noida Electronic City station, and reach the Noida Sector 51 station of the Aqua Line of Noida Metro, covering a stretch of around 300 meters. The Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC) had announced fares for the Aqua Line in December 2018. The minimum fares is Rs 9 and the maximum set to Rs 50. The Noida Metro has installed advanced ticketing systems. The commuters can buy QR-coded paper tickets or use the smart cards to get 10 percent discount on fares. The Aqua line metro trains are designed to run at a maximum speed of 80 km per hour, clocking an average speed of 37.5 km per hour. There are separate reserved coaches for ladies, senior citizens, and differently-abled persons. A dedicated space has been provided for the wheelchair in driving trailer cars at both the ends of the trains.