Delhi Metro Expansion: Cabinet releases Delhi Metro Phase-VA with 13 new stations; network to cross 400 km – The Times of India

The Union Cabinet has approved the Delhi Metro Rail Project Phase-VA, which will pave the way for construction of 13 new stations and expansion of the capital’s metro network beyond 400 kilometres, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said. According to the details presented, the Phase-VA project will involve the construction of 13 stations, 10 of which will be underground and three elevated. The total length of the approved corridors will be 16 km and the project is expected to be completed within three years.

Announcing the Cabinet decision, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, “We all know how the Delhi Metro has positively changed the lives of Delhiites and everyone traveling in and out of the city. This expansion adds a new chapter to the Delhi Metro. A project worth Rs 12,015 crore has been approved for this purpose.” The estimated cost of the Phase-VA expansion has been pegged at Rs 12,015 crore. Once completed, the extension will take the total operational length of the Delhi Metro network to over 400 km. The approved Phase VA includes three corridors. The Ramakrishna Ashram Marg to Indraprastha corridor will cover a length of 9.9 km and is estimated to cost Rs 9,570.4 crore. The Aerocity to Airport Terminal-1 corridor will cover 2.3 km and is expected to cost Rs 1,419.6 crore. The Tughlakabad to Kalindi Kunj corridor will have a length of 3.9 km and an estimated cost of Rs 1,024.8 crore.The Phase-V (A) extensions of the Delhi Metro will expand connectivity in Central Delhi and the domestic airport area, reduce traffic congestion and help reduce vehicular pollution, an official release said. The extensions, part of the Magenta Line and the Gold Line, are expected to improve access to key administrative and transport hubs while supporting economic activity in the national capital. Under the Phase-V (A) project, the stations on the RK Ashram Marg-Indraprastha section will include RK Ashram Marg, Shivaji Stadium, Central Secretariat, Kartavya Bhawan, India Gate, War Memorial-High Court, Baroda House, Bharat Mandapam and Indraprastha, the release said. The Tughlakabad-Kalindi Kunj section will have stations at Sarita Vihar Depot, Madanpur Khadar and Kalindi Kunj. The existing Aerocity station will also be expanded to connect with Indira Gandhi Domestic Airport Terminal-1. Currently, the construction of Phase IV of the Delhi Metro, comprising 111 km of track and 83 stations, is underway. According to the release, about 80.43% of civil construction work on the three priority corridors under Phase IV has been completed so far. The Phase IV priority corridors are expected to be completed in phases by December 2026. According to the press release, the Delhi Metro currently handles an average of 65 lakh passenger journeys per day. The highest number of passengers so far was 81.87 lakh passenger trips on August 8, 2025. Currently, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation operates 12 metro lines covering a distance of approximately 395 km with 289 stations spread across Delhi and the National Capital Region. The network is the largest metro system in India and one of the largest in the world.