New Delhi/Noida: The Delhi Metro crossed the city limits for the first time on Thursday when it rolled into Noida in adjoining Uttar Pradesh, where Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati announced plans to extend the line to Greater Noida and service the proposed airport and Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in the area.
"Our government is trying to extend Metro rail services to the rest of the state, starting with Greater Noida and the remaining parts of Noida. We also want to connect the proposed airport at Javer with the Metro," said Mayawati.
"Thanks to this service, Noida will be counted amongst the world's technically advanced cities and this will impact the development of Noida and Greater Noida," she said.
"Through this media forum, I extend the plea to the central Government to approve the (Javer) airport proposal so that the SEZs in this area can be developed," Mayawati said.
The Chief Minister flagged of the Metro from the Noida City Centre station around 1515 hrs IST and travelled aboard it till Noida sector 16 station and back. The Noida City Centre is the last station of the new link from Delhi's Yamuna Bank opened on Thursday.
Mayawati said, "Rs 557 crore (Rs 5.57 billion) were given to the Delhi Metro Rail Corp (DMRC) from the state government for the project. I am happy that the Noida authority along with DMRC completed the project in a time-bound manner. And I am thankful to the authorities concerned for the same."
Earlier on Thursday, Urban Development Minister S Jaipal Reddy and Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit flagged off the new Yamuna Bank-Noida City Centre corridor from the Akshardham Metro station.
The Yamuna Bank-Noida City Centre Metro is an elevated stretch and has 10 stations. It will be integrated with the operational Yamuna Bank to Dwarka Sector-9 segment. The DMRC estimates that 53,000 passengers will be added to its daily number of commuters once the Noida corridor opens to public on Friday.
"It is the first time Delhi Metro is entering another state and it is a great honour for DMRC," said Sheila Dikshit.
On the occasion, Jaipal Reddy said, "This is a historic line. I am very happy and proud to be associated with this occasion, that marks the extension of the legendary Delhi Metro beyond the NCR region."
"My ambition would be to go from Delhi as far as the routes (Metro) are commercially viable for the public. People who visit India must make it a point to visit the Metro facility," said Reddy.
Regarding the increase in Metro fares, DMRC Chief E Sreedharan said, "The fare increased by 36 per cent but the consumer price index increased by a lot more."
To this, Reddy said the government was making available hundreds of acres of land to the DMRC for large-scale commercial exploitation so that the DMRC may get additional revenue to keep fares at a certain level.
The minister added that the security of the Metro in Uttar Pradesh will be looked after by the Central Industrial Security Force, which looks after the security of all Delhi Metro stations in the national capital.
The decision to open the section was taken after Metro Railway Safety Commissioner R K Kardam gave the safety clearance on Wednesday.
The Noida Metro corridor could bring about a drastic change in the travelling habits of thousands of people in trans-Yamuna areas - Mayur Vihar and Ashok Nagar in east Delhi and Noida - and is likely to ease traffic on the Noida Highway as well as at the ITO junction.
Last month the DMRC said it wanted to open the section ahead of the India International Trade Fair, which annually begins in November 14 at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi.
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