Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) will set up a Ridge Interpretation Centre at Patel Chowk metro station to highlight the ecological significance of the Delhi Ridge and raise public awareness about the city's green lungs.

The project is expected to be completed within 18 months. The initiative stems from a 2008 directive by a Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC), which mandated the creation of the centre as a condition for DMRC’s use of land on the Ridge during the construction of Chhatarpur metro station on the Yellow Line.

Anuj Dayal, DMRC’s Principal Executive Director for Corporate Communications, emphasised that the centre will serve as a repository of information on the Ridge's ecology and conservation efforts, helping visitors understand its role in sustaining Delhi’s environment.

Another DMRC official noted that the facility will showcase the Ridge's biodiversity and preservation measures, fostering greater public engagement with the city's green heritage. Originally planned for the Qutub Minar metro station, Patel Chowk was ultimately chosen for its central location.

The station also houses a metro museum, further enriching its appeal as an educational hub. Delhi’s Ridge is divided into four zones: Northern Ridge (87 hectares), Central Ridge (864 hectares), South-Central Ridge (626 hectares), and Southern Ridge (6,200 hectares), with a total area of approximately 7,777 hectares.

Additionally, seven hectares of DDA land near Nanakpura Gurdwara have been earmarked for inclusion in the Central Ridge, pending resolution of rights and claims. The Ridge Interpretation Centre aims to underscore the importance of preserving these green spaces, which act as the ecological lungs of the national capital.

(ET)