New Delhi, 18 April (H.S.): Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has carried out a surprise on‑site inspection of the under‑construction RK Ashram Marg Metro Station, part of the Metro Phase‑4 project, and directed authorities to complete the works within the stipulated deadlines while maintaining the highest standards of safety, quality, and transparency.

Speaking after the review, she stressed that the project will be “a game‑changer” for connectivity in central, west, and north Delhi, and warned officials against any laxity or delay in execution.

During the visit on Saturday, the Chief Minister inspected the ongoing construction activities at the RK Ashram Marg station and held a detailed review meeting with senior officials of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).

She emphasised four key parameters: progress of work, construction quality, strict adherence to safety norms, and compliance with timelines.

Rekha Gupta observed that the RK Ashram Marg station is being developed as a major interchange hub between the existing Blue Line and the Magenta Line, enabling seamless transfers for commuters travelling between central and north Delhi.

The station forms a critical node on the 28.92‑km Line‑8 corridor extending from Janakpuri West to RK Ashram, which will link densely populated residential and commercial areas across west, north, and central Delhi.

The Chief Minister informed that parts of the Phase‑4 corridor—from Janakpuri West to Krishna Park Extension and Deepali Chowk to Majlis Park—have already been opened to passengers, while the remaining sections are under rapid construction.

Once fully operational, the Line‑8 corridor will significantly cut travel time, reduce road congestion, and lower pollution levels in the capital’s busiest zones.

A large portion of the project falls under a highly complex contract package involving around 7 km of twin‑bore tunnels and the construction of six major underground stations: Derawal Nagar, Ghausia Bagh, Pulbangash, Sadar Bazar, Nabi Karim, and RK Ashram Marg.

The Chief Minister praised the engineering feats accomplished in challenging areas such as Sadar Bazar and the subzimandi railway zone, where tunnelling was carried out under live railway lines, the Rani Jhansi flyover, and the Red Line Metro corridor, without disrupting traffic or existing transport services.

The construction is being executed in difficult geological conditions—hard rock strata and water‑logged soils—using state‑of‑the‑art tunnel‑boring machinery and stringent safety protocols.The CM noted that the project has ensured minimal disruption to surface traffic and commuters, even as underground works proceed at an aggressive pace.

She added that the RK Ashram Marg station will not only serve as a crucial interchange hub but also become a strategic backbone for future metro‑network expansion. The Magenta Line will be extended from RK Ashram Marg to Indraprastha and further to Indelok, forming a continuous high‑capacity corridor that will ease crowding in central Delhi and improve connectivity to key administrative and institutional areas, including the Central Vista complex.

The expansion includes a 9.91‑km segment from RK Ashram Marg to Indraprastha and another 11.9‑km stretch from Indraprastha to Indelok, which will push the full Botanical Garden–Indelok corridor to roughly 88.4 km, with 65 stations.

Once completed, the driver‑less Magenta Line will become the longest corridor in the Delhi Metro network, offering frequent, high‑speed, and energy‑efficient services across the capital.

Rekha Gupta described the Delhi Metro as the “lifeline of the capital,” on which millions of passengers depend daily, and stressed that no compromise will be tolerated on quality, safety, or transparency in any phase of the project. She instructed DMRC officials to accelerate construction speed, ensure continuous public information, and minimise inconvenience to residents during the remaining works so that Phase‑4 corridors can be completed on schedule and delivered to the public with maximum benefit and zero avoidable disruption.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar