Delhi metro expansion: Cabinet clears Delhi Metro Phase-VA with 13 new stations; network to cross 400 km
The Union Cabinet has approved the Delhi Metro Rail Project Phase-VA, paving the way for the construction of 13 new stations and extending the capital’s metro network beyond the 400-km mark, union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said. According to details presented, the Phase-VA project will involve the construction of 13 stations, of which 10 will be underground and three elevated. The total length of the approved corridors will be 16 km, and the project is scheduled to be completed within three years.
Announcing the Cabinet decision, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, “We all know how the Delhi Metro has positively transformed the lives of residents of Delhi and everyone who travels in and out of the city. With this expansion, a new chapter will be added to the Delhi Metro. For this purpose, a project worth Rs 12,015 crore has been sanctioned.” The estimated cost of the Phase-VA expansion has been pegged at Rs 12,015 crore. Once completed, the expansion 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 span 9.9 km at an estimated cost of Rs 9,570.4 crore. The Aerocity to Airport Terminal-1 corridor will cover 2.3 km with a projected cost of 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 road congestion and help cut vehicular pollution, according to an official release. The extensions, part of the Magenta Line and the Golden 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, stations on the R.K. Ashram Marg–Indraprastha section will include R.K. 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 extended to connect with Indira Gandhi Domestic Airport Terminal-1. Construction under Phase-IV of the Delhi Metro, comprising 111 km of track and 83 stations, is currently underway. About 80.43% of civil construction work on the three priority corridors under Phase-IV has been completed so far, according to the release. The Phase-IV priority corridors are expected to be completed in stages by December 2026. The release said the Delhi Metro currently handles an average of 65 lakh passenger journeys per day. The highest ridership recorded so far was 81.87 lakh passenger journeys on August 8, 2025. At present, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation operates 12 metro lines spanning about 395 km with 289 stations across Delhi and the National Capital Region. The network is the largest metro system in India and among the largest in the world.
