Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the new Delhi?Faridabad metro line, a Badarpur to Escorts Mujesar extension intended to ease daily travel between the national capital and the Haryana industrial hub. The extension is expected to serve around 0.2 mn daily commuters and aims to offer a faster, more reliable alternative to road travel. The project event underlined the continuing push to integrate urban transport across the National Capital Region.

The total cost of the Badarpur to Escorts Mujesar section is nearly Rs 25 billion (Rs 25 bn). The Haryana government met approximately Rs 15.57 billion (Rs 15.57 bn) of the cost, the Centre contributed about Rs 5.37 billion (Rs 5.37 bn) and Delhi Metro provided near Rs 4 billion (Rs 4 bn). The nine stations on the section are Sarai, NHPC Chowk, Mewala Maharajpur, Sector 28, Badkal Mor, Old Faridabad, Neelam Chowk Ajronda, Bata Chowk and Escorts Mujesar, and all are elevated along either side of Delhi?Mathura Road (NH?2).

A Haryana government spokesperson said the corridor had been built with about 95 per cent indigenous content and would deliver a safe, affordable, quick and comfortable service for commuters while reducing environmental impacts relative to private road transport. The spokesperson added that the new stretch would improve connectivity for workers and residents travelling between suburban and urban employment centres, and was intended to integrate with existing metro services across the region.

Haryana Chief Minister ML Khattar thanked the Prime Minister for the extension and said the service would advance the city’s development by improving links with other towns in the National Capital Region. He also indicated that the Prime Minister would announce a decision to progress a metro link between Gurgaon and Faridabad, signalling further expansion of rapid transit in the area.