NEW DELHI (Metro Rail News): Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has formally issued the Letter of Acceptance (LOA) to Cemindia Projects Limited (formerly ITD Cementation India Limited) for Contract EC-03, which involves the design and construction of twin tunnels and two underground stations for the Central Vista Corridor of Delhi Metro Phase V(A).
The contract covers the construction of twin tunnels (Up and Down Line) by Shield TBM from Shivaji Stadium station to Central Secretariat station, Cut & Cover tunnel between Central Secretariat and Kartavya Bhawan, and two fully underground station Central Secretariat and Kartavya Bhawan, along with entry/exits and connecting subways. The tunnelling section runs from Chainage 31373.276 m to 34216.169 m, passing beneath some of the most sensitive real estate in the country: India Gate, the Supreme Court, Kartavya Path, and ministerial offices in the New Delhi precinct.
The work must be completed within 33 months from the date of Notice to Proceed. PD/Central Vista will serve as the Engineer for the contract.
Contract at a Glance
The alignment passes through the very precinct that was recently transformed under the Central Vista Redevelopment Project, Kartavya Path (the rebuilt ceremonial axis), the new Parliament House, and the constellation of ministry buildings collectively known as Kartavya Bhawan. The metro corridor will, for the first time, give office-goers, daily visitors, and tourists direct underground access to these landmarks without surface disruption.
At 2.84 km (Chainage 31373 m to 34216 m), this is a compact but extraordinarily sensitive stretch requiring millimetre-precision TBM navigation past heritage structures and critical government buildings. DMRC notes a specific exclusion zone at Yuge Yugeen Bharat station between chainages 32334.986 m to 32539.986 m, reflecting the complexity of interfacing with parallel construction already underway on the corridor.
The Bigger Picture: Delhi Metro Phase V(A) and the ₹12,014 Crore Expansion
Contract EC-03 is the centrepiece of Delhi Metro Phase V(A), approved by the Delhi Cabinet on 11 February 2026 at an estimated total cost of ₹12,014.91 crore. Phase V(A) adds 16.076 km across three new corridors and 13 stations, 10 underground and 3 elevated.
Corridor Overview
The RK Ashram Marg-Indraprastha corridor, of which Contract EC-03 forms the critical mid-section, will extend the existing Magenta Line (Line 8) deeper into Central Delhi. When Phase IV and Phase V(A) are complete, the Magenta Line will stretch approximately 89 km from Botanical Garden to Inderlok, the longest corridor in the entire Delhi Metro network, with 21 interchange stations and 40 underground stations out of 65 total. The entire Magenta Line is planned to operate as a driverless corridor.
Central Secretariat will become a triple-interchange station, one of only four in the entire network connecting the Yellow Line (Samaypur Badli–HUDA City Centre), the existing Violet Line extension, and the new Phase V(A) Central Vista corridor. For daily commuters and government employees, this station will be transformational.
Also Read: Bengaluru Metro’s non-fare income climbs sharply, touches Rs 145 crore mark
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