Noida-Aerocity Metro Link Mooted
As it searches for ways to connect Jewar, where Noida International Airport will begin operations next year, Noida is likely to first see its metro link with Delhi's IGI Airport improve greatly. Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), which Noida consults on all its metro projects, has proposed a direct link to Aerocity - and from there to Terminal 3 after an interchange - by extending the Gold Line to Kalindi Kunj. Gold Line, which is at an advanced stage of construction, links Aerocity and Tughlaqabad. From Tughlaqabad, a 5 km extension can bring Gold Line trains to Kalindi Kunj. Should this proposal be accepted and funding come through - the approximate cost is Rs 9.5 billion - Kalindi Kunj and Botanical Garden just across the Yamuna will become focal points of the city's metro grid. Both places have Magenta Line stations. Botanical Garden is already a major interchange station for the Blue and Magenta lines and will become a trijunction when the 11km expressway leg of Noida Metro's Aqua Line, starting at Sector 142, gets built (that proposal has been passed and is awaiting central clearance). Magenta Line goes directly to Terminal 1 of IGI (a walkway from the T1 station links up with the T1 station of Airport Express Line). So, it already gives the city direct and indirect connectivity to both terminals. The proposed Gold Line extension will open a second metro route to IGI airport, besides access to the Blue Line via Botanical Garden. The proposal is being studied with interest because, in combination with Aqua Line's expressway leg, it will extend the metro grid all the way to Pari Chowk in Greater Noida and fill to an extent the mass transit gap from NCR's second international airport in Jewar. Pari Chowk and Jewar are 40 km apart. On the Yamuna Expressway, that's not a long drive. Noida International Airport announced last week it will launch its own taxi service. Noida is also exploring connecting the new airport with other important points by bus. Other proposals to connect Noida airport with other parts of NCR like building a rapid rail corridor from the Delhi-Meerut Namo Bharat line are long-term plans that are on the drawing board. The DMRC proposal came as Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) CEO Arun Vir Singh held discussions with DMRC officials about options for metro rail connectivity between Noida airport and IGI along the Noida Expressway. Initially, DMRC had prepared a detailed project report (DPR) to link NIA with IGI Airport via the expressway. However, this proposal was shelved after UP govt decided to look at the rapid rail option - a 72 km corridor connecting Ghaziabad, Greater Noida and Noida airport. This was thought to be more economically viable and capable of serving a larger population. Following discussions, DMRC's chief project manager (8) Shiv Om Dwivedi wrote to Singh on Dec 13, proposing the 5km elevated Gold Line corridor that would boost future connectivity with Pari Chowk. DMRC has suggested two metro stations at Sarita Vihar Depot and Madanpur Khadar on this extension. Singh said the proposal would be presented to chief minister Yogi Adityanath for approval. "The project's future depends on the CM's review of the proposal and how funding could be achieved," he added.
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The validation flight at the airport in Jewar, was done using an Airbus A-320 aircraft.
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