Delhi Metro’s ITO – Kashmere Gate Section to Open on May 28
After receiving the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety’s approval today, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) just announced that it will finally inaugurate commercial services on the 5.17 km ITO – Kashmere Gate underground section of the Violet Line on May 28th (Sunday). As per a DMRC notice, the flagging-off ceremony or launch event will be held off-site at their Metro Bhawan Headquarters on Barakhamba Road at 8:45 am.
May 26 Update: The line will be flagged off by the Union Minister for Urban Development & Delhi’s Chief Minister at 10 am, and will open up to the public shortly after at 12 noon.
Trial runs on this section, popularly known as the Heritage Line, were launched from the ITO Station in August 2016 and an independent safety assessor (ISA) conducted an inspection of the signalling system in late-March 2017. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation submitted its application to the CMRS in April following which a 2-day inspection was conducted on May 22-23.
This will be the 4th stretch of the Violet Line to be inaugurated in the 160 km Phase 3 project (see list) and will add 3 new stations to the network at Delhi Gate, Jama Masjid & Lal Qila as well as a new station box at Kashmere Gate to form a massive 3-line interchange, India’s first, between the Yellow, Red & Violet lines:
Map of ITO – Kashmere Gate section of Delhi Metro’s Violet Line – view Delhi Metro Phase 3 map & information
DMRC’s notice
The DMRC recently opened up gates #5 & #6 at Kashmere Gate Station to allow users to buy tokens at the Violet Line’s concourse and access the underground Yellow Line.
Images shot prior to its opening:
In #Delhi, Kashmere Gate Station’s new gate#5 & #6 will open up prior to the Violet Line’s launch. Snaps: pic.twitter.com/5YhytSMklL
— The Metro Rail Guy (@TheMetroRailGuy) May 23, 2017
Images shot after its opening:
Kashmere Gate Station’s gate #5 & #6 are now open in #Delhi. Users can buy tix at the new Violet Line’s concourse for accessing Yellow Line: pic.twitter.com/d6dILgpPkC
— The Metro Rail Guy (@TheMetroRailGuy) May 24, 2017
Since the CMRS’ inspection, the DMRC has been conducting service trials, as if the line is live, with staff and contractors to check the section’s readiness – which is why users at Mandi House and ITO stations now have to use both platforms instead of one:
At Mandi House Station – Photo Copyright: Manish
Violet Line’s platform at Kashmere Gate Station – Photo Copyright: AT
Passageway to the Violet Line as seen from the Yellow Line at Kashmere Gate – Photo Copyright: AT
Post-inauguration, the Violet Line, connecting Kashmere Gate with Escorts Mujesar in Faridabad, will become 43.4 km long and the Delhi Metro’s network will expand to 218 km. Stay tuned for a post on its inauguration!
For more updates, check out the Delhi section of The Metro Rail Guy!
– TMRG
Why are they numbering the new violet line gates of Kashmere gate as 5 and 6, when the station already has gates of red and yellow lines numbered till 8?
If I’m not mistaken, those 2 entrances were closed down and demolished in 2012 to construct the new station box.
After looking at your google map of ITO-Kashmiri Gate section, I have an question. Can DMRC extend the airport express line till Mandi House to have direct connection of it with Noida, Ghaziabad, Faridabad ? Currently airport express line has less patronage as people have to make switch at busy rajiv chowk junction and then at New Delhi station.
Very Good Idea.
Hi, connecting it with Mandi House and Noida will form a big U. The line’s logical next extension should ideally be east to Anand Vihar Station via the ‘Master Plan’ road. On the south-side, it should be extended to Gurgaon, Fairdabad and onward to Gr. Noida.
Hi TMRG!
This is exactly what I am thinking for so long!! That would integrate NCR economically, making it the world’s largest urban agglomeration. This would really work. But we are at least 20 years away from that.
Please introduce a “thumbs up” button.. So that I don’t have to type so much to appreciate your thought. 😀
Hi, a thumbs up button would be nice (I’ve looked into it), but just not possible with the site’s theme.
Congrats Delhi Metro,
Der Aaye Durust Aaye
I’ve been following your updates for this section since last one year. You are always giving up to date info, much before the news in papers. Thanks TMRG. Keep it up
Thanks for your message! 🙂
With this corridor out of the backlog, now the DMRC can focus more on Magenta & Pink lines respectively. Also can move ahead for the phase 4.