<p>Drawn out only in 2006, the Phase-II envisaged adding another 125 km network to the Delhi Metro. The sense of achievement was visible in the face of 'Metro Man' E Sreedharan, who said today was a great day in the history of DMRC as the Badarpur line rolled out to the public partially.<br /><br />The line missed its September 30 deadline and Delhi Metro got the mandatory safety certificate only yesterday. A visibly relieved and elated Sreedharan told reporters that the Phase-II was originally scheduled to be completed by 2011, but the deadline was pushed to September this year keeping in mind the Commonwealth Games.<br /><br />"It is a matter of great pride and glory for all of us in Delhi Metro that the Badarpur line has been substantially opened up to Sarita Vihar. This marks almost the completion of our Phase-II project," he said.<br /><br />This particular line was important as it was a crucial link to the main Commonwealth Games venue of Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. A small stretch connecting Sarita Vihar with Badarpur and the Airport Express Line, which will be operated by a consortium led by Reliance, are the only lines pending under the Phase-II project.<br /><br />The Central Secretariat-Badarpur line was the last to get sanction in April 2007, thus leaving just three years and four months for the Delhi Metro to finish the line. Delhi Metro built a new station for the broad gauge line near the existing Central Secretariat station and integrated with the old one. For a passenger, it will look as if it is a same station. <br /><br /><br />While the Phase-I covered 65 km, Phase-II envisaged covering 125-km that connected Delhi with Noida, Gurgaon while Metro also reached Jahangirpuri in north Delhi, Anand Vihar in east Delhi and Nehru Place in south Delhi.<br /><br />The lines which were constructed under the Phase-II are Shahdara-Dilshad Garden (3.9 km), Indraprastha-Noida Sector 32 (15.07 km), Yamuna Bank-Anand Vihar ISBT (6.17 km), Vishwavidyalaya-JahangirPuri (6.36 km), Inderlok-Mundka (18.46 km), Central Secretariat-HUDA City Centre (27.45 km), Dwarka Sector 9 to Dwarka Sector 21 (2.76 km), Airport Express Line (22.70 km) and Central Secretariat-Badarpur (20.04 km).<br /><br />DMRC officials said the Phase-II was really challenging as there was very little time for them to plan and execute things.<br /><br />"We just had four years to construct 125 km Metro rail network. But, still we kept the Games deadline. The deadlines were pushed up to provide connectivity before the Games," an official said.<br /><br />As the Phase-II nears completion, the DMRC is also witnessing a constant increase in its ridership. Currently, the ridership is 15 lakh on an average day and it is expected to be 20 lakh by the end of this year. Metro has introduced new trains on almost all lines and is likely to introduce six-coach trains by the end of this year to reduce pressure.</p>
<p>Drawn out only in 2006, the Phase-II envisaged adding another 125 km network to the Delhi Metro. The sense of achievement was visible in the face of 'Metro Man' E Sreedharan, who said today was a great day in the history of DMRC as the Badarpur line rolled out to the public partially.<br /><br />The line missed its September 30 deadline and Delhi Metro got the mandatory safety certificate only yesterday. A visibly relieved and elated Sreedharan told reporters that the Phase-II was originally scheduled to be completed by 2011, but the deadline was pushed to September this year keeping in mind the Commonwealth Games.<br /><br />"It is a matter of great pride and glory for all of us in Delhi Metro that the Badarpur line has been substantially opened up to Sarita Vihar. This marks almost the completion of our Phase-II project," he said.<br /><br />This particular line was important as it was a crucial link to the main Commonwealth Games venue of Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. A small stretch connecting Sarita Vihar with Badarpur and the Airport Express Line, which will be operated by a consortium led by Reliance, are the only lines pending under the Phase-II project.<br /><br />The Central Secretariat-Badarpur line was the last to get sanction in April 2007, thus leaving just three years and four months for the Delhi Metro to finish the line. Delhi Metro built a new station for the broad gauge line near the existing Central Secretariat station and integrated with the old one. For a passenger, it will look as if it is a same station. <br /><br /><br />While the Phase-I covered 65 km, Phase-II envisaged covering 125-km that connected Delhi with Noida, Gurgaon while Metro also reached Jahangirpuri in north Delhi, Anand Vihar in east Delhi and Nehru Place in south Delhi.<br /><br />The lines which were constructed under the Phase-II are Shahdara-Dilshad Garden (3.9 km), Indraprastha-Noida Sector 32 (15.07 km), Yamuna Bank-Anand Vihar ISBT (6.17 km), Vishwavidyalaya-JahangirPuri (6.36 km), Inderlok-Mundka (18.46 km), Central Secretariat-HUDA City Centre (27.45 km), Dwarka Sector 9 to Dwarka Sector 21 (2.76 km), Airport Express Line (22.70 km) and Central Secretariat-Badarpur (20.04 km).<br /><br />DMRC officials said the Phase-II was really challenging as there was very little time for them to plan and execute things.<br /><br />"We just had four years to construct 125 km Metro rail network. But, still we kept the Games deadline. The deadlines were pushed up to provide connectivity before the Games," an official said.<br /><br />As the Phase-II nears completion, the DMRC is also witnessing a constant increase in its ridership. Currently, the ridership is 15 lakh on an average day and it is expected to be 20 lakh by the end of this year. Metro has introduced new trains on almost all lines and is likely to introduce six-coach trains by the end of this year to reduce pressure.</p>