Aqua line extension to improve Noida Metro connectivity

The Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC) has started a topography survey for the 11.6-kilometre Aqua Line extension to ensure efficient metro integration.

The Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC) has begun a topography survey for the projected 11.6-kilometre Aqua Line extension from Botanical Garden to Sector 142. The survey will evaluate the elevations of buildings, highways, and markets along the intended path to ensure smooth metro integration.

This extension will follow the Noida Motorway, providing a direct mass transit link between Delhi and the future Noida International Airport in Jewar, approximately 40 km away. It will also connect the Blue and Magenta lines of the Delhi Metro to the Aqua Line. A thorough project study developed by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is awaiting central government approval.

With the Noida airport scheduled to open in April 2025, permission for the corridor is expected soon. The Uttar Pradesh state cabinet approved the project in June 2024 for ₹ 2,254.35 crore, which will be jointly funded by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and the Noida Authority.

Noida CEO Lokesh M emphasised the project’s urgency, stating, “We are eager to prioritise the construction of the 11.6-kilometre metro link. This corridor will drastically shorten commute times to Delhi for residents of Greater Noida and the Noida Motorway sectors.” He further added, “Passengers will only have to change trains once at Botanical Garden to reach the Blue and Magenta lines, bringing the metro closer to Noida Airport. We are finalising all necessary procedures for this metro link to ensure construction begins promptly once the central government’s approval is obtained.”

Currently, the Aqua Line runs from Depot Station in Greater Noida to Sector 51 in Noida. Travellers must walk to Sector 52 (Blue Line) or Botanical Garden (Magenta Line) for further travel. The planned extension will eliminate this hassle by providing a direct metro connection. The corridor will have eight additional stations, including Sector 96 (near Noida Authority’s planned office), Sectors 44, 105, and 93 along the highway, as well as Sectors 97, 108 (near the police commissioner’s office), and 91 (near Panchsheel Balak Inter College).

The ongoing topography study will determine the longitude and latitude of major structures along the route. An NMRC official added, “This topographical analysis is critical for identifying the precise alignment of the metro corridor while taking potential obstructions into account. We plan to complete the survey within the following two weeks.”

Initially, the corridor is expected to accommodate at least 70,000 daily passengers. Meanwhile, two other metro projects are awaiting approval: a 17.4-kilometre corridor from Sector 51 to Knowledge Park V, featuring 11 stations (four in Noida, seven in Greater Noida), and a 2.6-kilometre extension from Depot to Bodaki, with two stops.