Noida Metro
The Noida Metro is a rapid transit system serving the twin cities of Noida and Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh, India. The metro network consists of one line, with a total length of serving 21 stations, all of them elevated. The system uses standard-gauge tracks.
The services are available from 6:00am to 10:00pm from Monday to Saturday. On Sundays, trains are available between 8:00am and 10:00pm. The trains make 163 trips a day on weekdays, using a fleet of 10 trains and the frequency is 10 minutes during peak hours and 15 minutes during off-peak hours. On Saturday and Sunday the frequency is 10 minutes. Initially, the trains are composed of four cars to be extended up to six in the future.
Noida Metro is the 11th Metro system to be built in India and 2nd in Uttar Pradesh after Lucknow Metro. It is the ninth longest operational metro network in India after the Delhi Metro, Hyderabad Metro, Chennai Metro, Namma Metro and Kolkata Metro.
Noida Metro Rail Corporation, a state-owned corporation, is building and owns the system. However, the operations and maintenance of Noida Metro lies with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation. The line is connected to Delhi Metro at Noida Sector 51 station by a footbridge. Foundation for the NMRC project was laid down in October 2014, with the construction being commenced by the end of December 2014 by then Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Akhilesh Yadav. Trial runs started in August 2018, and the metro was inaugurated on 25 January 2019 by Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath. It is planned to be connected with the proposed Jewar Airport through an extension of the Aqua Line.
History
The Uttar Pradesh government approved the construction of a metro line, linking Noida with Greater Noida in October 2014. The government also appointed the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation as the turnkey consultant for the project.The detailed project report was prepared by the DMRC. A Special Purpose Vehicle called the Noida Metro Rail Corporation was formed to implement the project. The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet approved the project and forwarded the DPR to Government of India in October 2013. The Government of India and UP will each bear 20% of the costs and loans from external agencies would be taken to fund the rest 60% of the project. Twenty percent funding from UP will be shared by Noida and Greater Noida Authorities, based on the length of track that passes through the two areas.
The NMRC announced on 30 November 2016 that the first line of the metro would be called the Aqua Line. Explaining the choice, NMRC managing director Santosh Yadav stated, "Aqua signifies an eco-friendly colour, which is what we want to portray." The project received safety clearance from the commissioner of metro rail safety on 21 December 2018.
The Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority approved an extension of the Aqua Line as part of Phase 2 of the metro project on 4 December 2018. The 15 km extension will link Noida Sector 71 to Knowledge Park 5 in Greater Noida. The extension will consist of nine stations and is expected to cost. The new stations are Sector 122 and Sector 123 in Noida and Sector 4, Ecotech 12, Sectors 2, Sector 3, Sector 10, Sector 12 and Knowledge Park V in Greater Noida.
Timeline
Phase 1
Noida Sector 51 to Depot- Oct 2014: UP Government approves the metro project.
- Sep 2015: Work progress in around Sec-71, Noida.
- Nov 2015: 700 piles out of total 5000 have been made.
- Feb 2016: NMRC completes first phase of construction in eight months. At this rate, the corridor is expected to be operational publicly by May 2017.
- Feb 2017: 70% work completed.
- Mar 2017: Train trials to start by December 2017 and commercial operations by April 2018.
- June 2017: Commercial operations to start by April 2018.
- July 2017: 95% civil work of track and metro station completed, trial to start by year end.
- Aug 2017: Metro train trial to start by year end on 6-km track from Depot station to Knowledge Park station.
- Sep 2017: Commercial operations to start by April 2018.
- Oct 2017: 97% civil work done. All stations to be ready by October end.
- Nov 2017: The last girder was placed thus completing viaduct work for whole metro line.
- Dec 2017: Four Aqua Line coaches arrive from China, each costing INR 11 crores. Trial run to begin soon.
- Jan 2018: Limited trial run started on stretch.
- Mar 2018: Full-fledged trial run to start in April.
- Jun 2018: Trial runs going on from Gr Noida Depot to Noida Sector-148 slowly it will be extended to terminating station in Noida Sector-71. The line will become fully operational by Dec 2018.
- Sep 2018: Trials continued for extended month till November 2018.
- Nov 2018: Currently, the corridor is undergoing extensive trials prior to final inspection by the commissioner of metro rail safety.
- Dec 2018: Safety trial successfully conducted and fares decided.
- Jan 2019: On 25 January, Aqua line was inaugurated by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath & cabinet minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri.
Phase 2
- Dec 2018: Uttar Pradesh government approved the project on 04-Dec-2018.
- Aug 2019: Project to get delayed due to financial viability. PPP mode to be explored.
- Dec 2019: Project approved in Uttar Pradesh cabinet meeting, project deadline set to 2022
- Jun 2020: Tenders invited and to be submitted by end of June-2020.
- July 2020: Tender for construction to be awarded by September.
- Feb 2021: The tender and bidding process for Noida Aqua-Line Extension Project was conducted thrice between June 2020 and February 2021 but all three times they were cancelled due to relatively low response from the construction companies.
- June 2021: Tender for the Noida Metro Aqua Line Extension has been floated for the fourth time
- July 2021: This time NMRC has received 3 bids from Sam India Builtwell, GR Infra Projects, and Ashoka Buildcon. After the technical evaluation of bids NMRC has final candidates.
Network
Phase-1 Existing
The operated Aqua Line has 21 stations. The line starts from Noida Sector 51 metro station and will run through sectors 50, 76, 101, 81, NSEZ, 83, 137, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147 and 148; after this it will enter Greater Noida and will go through Knowledge Park-II, Pari Chowk, Alpha-1, Delta-1 and GNIDA Office before terminating in Depot Station.The entire route is on elevated track. All stations are equipped with platform screen doors. The corridor was completed at a cost of ₹5,503 crore, according to the NMRC. This line has an interchange station with the Delhi Metro at Noida Sector 52 metro station.