Central Vista metro to free up Rajiv Chowk, offer more routes

New Delhi: The under-construction Central Vista metro corridor, which will pass from Indraprastha to RK Ashram Marg, is expected to significantly reduce passenger load at Rajiv Chowk, one of the busiest stations in the Delhi Metro network. With four interchanges on this 9.9km corridor, it will decongest the existing interchange stations and also offer commuters multiple options for alternative route planning.The new corridor with nine stations, including four interchanges, will pass through the Central Vista area. The interchange stations are RK Ashram Marg, Indraprastha and Shivaji Stadium, along with Central Secretariat, which will become a triple interchange station in phase V(A) expansion with Yellow, Violet and Magenta lines.A dedicated subway is also planned between Rajiv Chowk and Shivaji Stadium stations, facilitating seamless interchange between Airport Express, Yellow and Blue lines.“The proposed interchanges with Blue Line at RK Ashram Marg and Indraprastha are expected to significantly reduce passenger load at Rajiv Chowk. Commuters travelling from Noida and Vaishali towards the Central Vista area will be able to interchange at Indraprastha, while passengers travelling from Dwarka and other parts of west Delhi can conveniently interchange at RK Ashram Marg,” said a senior Delhi Metro Rail Corporation official. This will provide direct access to destinations along the Central Vista corridor without the need to travel through Rajiv Chowk, improving network efficiency and enhancing passenger convenience, he added.Rajiv Chowk has consistently recorded one of the highest daily footfalls in the DMRC network. It is currently the second busiest station after Kashmere Gate and recorded 3.8 lakh footfall in 2025, 3.7 lakh in 2024 and 3.5 lakh in 2023.The construction of this corridor began on March 25 and the line is being designed with station platforms capable of accommodating six-coach trains. DMRC said the project would significantly improve connectivity to the heart of Delhi and provide efficient access to major govt offices, judicial institutions, national memorials and convention facilities. It will provide direct connectivity with landmarks, including Kartavya Bhavan, India Gate, National War Memorial, Delhi High Court, Baroda House, Supreme Court and Bharat Mandapam.A new dedicated depot is planned near Majlis Park to cater to the operational requirements of the Central Vista corridor, the official said.With the addition of this corridor, the total length of Magenta Line will become 88.4km, making it the longest in the DMRC network. It will run all the way from Botanical Garden to Inderlok as a fully driverless corridor, with stations in Noida, and south and central Delhi.