Daily passenger ridership on Noida Metro’s Aqua Line has risen by more than 20 per cent since the skywalk linking the Sector 51 and Sector 52 metro stations opened to the public on August 28. Officials attributed the increase to easier transfers between the two networks. Data from the Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC) showed that average daily passenger numbers rose from around 70,000 in August to approximately 85,000 in September. The increase represents about 21 per cent growth following the opening of the facility, according to Noida authority chief executive officer Krishna Karunesh. NMRC data showed average daily ridership on the Aqua Line at 60,705 in June, 61,811 in July and 73,298 in August. The figures indicate that passenger use had already been rising before the skywalk became operational, although officials linked the sharper increase in September to the improved interchange. Before the facility opened, passengers transferring between the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation’s (DMRC) Blue Line station at Sector 52 and NMRC’s Sector 51 station had to walk around 1 km. The skywalk allows commuters to move between the two lines without buying new tickets, reducing the inconvenience associated with the interchange. The L-shaped, 400-metre air-conditioned structure is equipped with travelators and was opened after a delay of more than three years. It was launched in March 2023 with a one-year completion target, but construction faced alignment changes and restrictions imposed by the National Green Tribunal during the winter season. The project was initially designed as a single-pillar structure, but the discovery of an underground metro cable during excavation required a redesign using two-column supports. A beam obstructing the entry at Sector 51 led to another modification and an extension of the skywalk. These changes increased the project cost from Rs. 250 mn to Rs. 330 mn. Residents said the facility had made the transfer more convenient during heat and rainfall, with travelators helping commuters cover the distance in four to five minutes.