Noida Metro to connect to Jewar Airport in Phase – II

Introduction

The Uttar Pradesh government approved the construction of a 29.7 km metro line linking Noida with Greater Noida in October 2014. The government also appointed the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) as the turnkey consultant for the project.

The detailed project report (DPR) was prepared by the DMRC. A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) called the Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC) 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. The project received safety clearance from the commissioner of metro rail safety on 21 December 2018. The Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA) 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 Rs. 2,602 crore. 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. 

Project Details 

The Noida Metro is a rapid transit system connecting the twin cities of Noida and Greater Noida in Gautam Buddh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, India. The metro network consists of one line (called Aqua Line), with a total length of 29.7 kilometres serving 21 stations. A second line is planned. The system has all elevated stations using standard-gauge tracks. 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 sixth longest operational metro network in India after the Delhi Metro, Hyderabad Metro, Chennai Metro, Namma Metro and Kolkata Metro.

Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC), 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. Noida metro is planned to be connected with blue line of DMRC and proposed Jewar Airport through Aqua line of NMRC. 

System Specifications

• Top Speed : 95 kmph
• Average Speed : 35 kmph
• Track Gauge : Standard Gauge – 1435 mm
• Electrification : 25 kV, 50 Hz AC OHE
• Signalling : Communication-based Train Control (CBTC)

Key Figures

• Operational : 29.7 km
• Under Construction : 0 km
• Approved : 14.95 km
• Proposed : 70 km
• Daily Ridership : 33,000/day (May 2022)
• Rolling Stock : 76 coaches (19 train-sets x 4) supplied by CRRC

Operational Route

Line-1 (Aqua Line) Sector 51 – Greater Noida Depot

• Length : 29.7 km
• Estimated Cost : Rs. 5,503 crore
• Type : Elevated
• Depot : Greater Noida Sector 34
• Number of Stations : 21

Stations Names: Noida Sector-51, Sector-50, Sector-76, Sector-101, Sector-81, NSEZ (erst. Dadri road), Sector-83, Sector-137, Sector-142, Sector-143, Sector-144, Sector-146, Sector-147, Sector-148 in Noida. Knowledge Park II, Pari Chowk, Alpha-1, Delta-1, GNIDA Office and Depot stations in Greater Noida.

Approved Routes

Line-1 (Aqua Line) Sector 51 – Knowledge Park V

• Length : 14.95 km
• Estimated Cost : Rs. 2,682 crore

(This extension of the Aqua Line was approved by Uttar Pradesh’s Cabinet in December 2019 and will be developed in 2 phases.)

• Phase 1: Sector 51 to Greater Noida Sector-2 (9.605 km)
• Phase 1 Stations (5): Noida Sector 122, Noida Sector 123, Greater Noida Sector 4, Ecotech 12 (Tech Zone) and Greater Noida Sector 2
• Phase 2: Greater Noida Sector-2 to Knowledge Park V (5.8 km)
• Phase 2 Stations (4): Greater Noida Sector 3, Sector 10, Sector 12 and Knowledge Park V

Proposed New Routes

Various new lines are currently on the drawing board. Some of them are:

Extension of Aqua Line: Depot Station to Chamrawali Bodaki (3.5 km)

(This eastward extension of Line-1 proposes to connect a residential township being developed for the Delhi – Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC).

New Line  (Sector 142 – Botanical Garden)

• Length : 11.504 km
• Status : Proposed
• Type : Elevated

(Alignment and line colour have not been finalized)

New Line (Greater Noida Knowledge Park II – Jewar Airport)

• Length : 35.64 km
• Status : Proposed (DPR being prepared by DMRC)
• Type : Elevated (Express & Local services)
• Number of Stations : 25
• Station Names : Greater Noida’s Knowledge Park-II, Chi-I, Chi-II, Chi-III, Chi-IV, Gautam Budh University, Night Safari, Murshadpur, Yamuna Authority’s Sector 26A, Noida International University, Galgotia University, Sector 17A, Sports City, Sector 22A, Sector 22B, Sector 18A, Sector 22C, Sector 19, Sector 2, Sector 20, Sector 21, Sector 28, Sector 29, Nagla Hukum Singh and Jewar Airport
• Contractors : Cengrs Geotechnica (Geotechnical work) and Centre for Environment Research and Development (EIA and SIA study) for preparation of DPR.

Major Timeline 

Phase 1 : Noida Sector 51 to Depot

• Oct 2014 : UP Government approves the metro project.
• Sep 2015 : Work in progress around Sec-71, Noida.
• Nov 2015 : 700 piles (pillar foundation) out of total 5000 completed.
• Feb 2016 : NMRC completes first phase of construction in eight months. 
• Feb 2017 : 70% work completed.
• Mar 2017 : Train trials expected 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, trials expected 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 completed by October end.
• Nov 2017 : Placing of the last girder, 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 1 km stretch.
• Mar 2018 : Full-fledged trial run to start in April.
• Jun 2018 : Trial runs on from Gr Noida Depot to Noida Sector-148 slowly planned to be extended to terminating station in Noida Sector-71. The line to become fully operational by Dec 2018.
• Sep 2018 : Trials continued, extended till November 2018.
• Nov 2018 : 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 : UP government approves the project on 04-Dec-2018.
• Aug 2019 : Project gets delayed due to financial viability. Discussion on PPP mode.
• 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 conducted thrice between June 2020 and February 2021 but cancelled all three times due to relatively low response from the construction companies.
• June 2021 : Tender for the Noida Metro Aqua Line Extension floated for the fourth time
• July 2021 : NMRC received 3 bids from Sam India Builtwell, GR Infra Projects, and Ashoka Buildcon. After the technical evaluation of bids NMRC selects the contractor.

Network

• Phase 1

The operated 29.7-kilometre 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 Rs. 5,503 crore, according to the NMRC. This line has an interchange station with the Delhi Metro at Noida Sector 52 metro station.

• Phase 2

Noida Sector 51 to Knowledge Park V :The Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA) on 4 December 2018, approved the Noida Metro Phase 2 from Noida Sector 51 to Knowledge Park V in Greater Noida. The extension will cover up to 15  km and comprise 9 stations and cost Rs 2602 crore. 

According to the detailed project report (DPR), the new track would be completed in two phases and the entire project would connect Sector 51 in Noida and Knowledge Park V in Greater Noida. The first phase would be between Sector 51 and Greater Noida Sector 2, while the second phase would be between Greater Noida Sector 2 and Knowledge Park V stations, the DPR stated. There will be five stations in the first phase—Noida Sector 122, Sector 123, Greater Noida Sector 4, Eco Tech, and Greater Noida 2, while four stations in second phase—Greater Noida Sector 3, Sector 10, Sector 12 and Knowledge Park V. The construction cost of the first phase of the Noida Aqua Line Extension Project will be Rs 536.04 crore and the completion period of the project is 2 years. If all goes well, construction work is expected to start in 2021.

Knowledge Park II to Noida International Airport : DPR prepared for extension from Greater Noida to upcoming Noida International Airport at Jewar that will cover around 35.64  km and comprises 25 stations. The project cost is estimated to be Rs 5708 crore as per YEIDA officials.

Noida Sector 142 to Botanical Garden : DPR prepared for extension from Noida Sec 142 to Botanical Garden metro station that will cover around 11.5 km and comprises 11 stations. The project is expected to finish by 2023 and provide direct connectivity between expressway sectors and greater Noida to Delhi metro without having to leave the metro system. The DPR is being vetted by the board of the NMRC before being sent across for approvals.

Conclusion

The Noida Metro is a rapid transit system connecting the twin cities of Noida and Greater Noida in Gautam Buddh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, India. Currently Noida Metro network consists of one line (called Aqua line). The metro was inaugurated on 25 January 2019 by Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath. 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.

Noida Metro is the 11th Metro system to be built in India. It is the sixth longest operational metro network in India after the Delhi Metro, Hyderabad Metro, Chennai Metro,Namma Metro and Kolkata Metro. The line connects to Delhi Metro at Noida Sector 51 station. The 15 km extension will link Noida Sector 71 to Knowledge Park 5 in Greater Noida. 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. Each train has a seating capacity of 186 and a standing capacity of 848, with total capacity of 1,034 passengers. All 21 stations, the train depot, and the NMRC offices will be powered by solar energy. Trains will operate at an average speed of 35 km/h (22 mph) with a headway of ten minutes during non-peak hours and 7.30 minutes during peak hours from Monday to Friday, 15 minutes headway for Saturday and Sunday.

The Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC) has started parking facilities at 15 Metro stations. Penalties starts from Rs. 50 to Rs.5000, varies as per the offences. NMRC envisages a unified, smart card based, multi-modal transport ticketing system for Noida City. Multi-model ticketing system would help NMRC to provide seamless commuting experience to commuters within city using a single common mobility card as fare media.

Present Network

Noida & Greater Noida are fastest growing towns in National Capital region. Noida & Greater Noida Authorities decided to have their own SPV in the name of Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC) to facilitate mass transit & other urban transport in Noida & Greater Noida.

The principal objective of NMRC is to plan, design, develop, construct, maintain, operate and finance mass transit and other urban transport in Noida & Greater Noida region. Pursuant to this, NMRC is developing a metro rail system connecting twin cities Noida and Greater Noida. The NMRC has opened its corridor covering the length of 29.707KM between Noida & Greater Noida and operational since 26th January, 2019. The stretch consisting of 21 stations out of which 15 are in Noida and 6 in Greater Noida). NMRC has received ‘IGBC PLATINUM’ rating for all 21 elevated stations of NMRC from IGBC Green Rating System.