The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved three new corridors as part of Delhi Metro’s Phase V(A) project, aimed at further strengthening connectivity across the national capital.

The approved corridors are:

R.K. Ashram Marg – Indraprastha (9.913 km)

Aerocity – IGD Airport Terminal-1 (2.263 km)

Tughlakabad – Kalindi Kunj (3.9 km)

Together, these corridors span 16.076 km, with a total project cost of ?12,014.91 crore, to be funded by the Government of India, Government of Delhi, and international funding agencies.

The R.K. Ashram Marg–Indraprastha corridor, an extension of the Botanical Garden–R.K. Ashram Marg line, will provide metro connectivity to the Central Vista area, including Kartavya Bhawans. The government estimates that around 60,000 office-goers and nearly 2 lakh visitors will benefit daily, improving ease of travel while helping reduce road congestion, pollution, and fossil fuel usage.

The Aerocity–IGD Airport Terminal-1 and Tughlakabad–Kalindi Kunj corridors are extensions of the Aerocity–Tughlakabad line and will significantly improve airport connectivity with South Delhi areas such as Saket, Chhatarpur and Kalindi Kunj. In total, the extensions will include 13 stations, of which 10 will be underground and three elevated.

Once completed, the R.K. Ashram Marg–Indraprastha corridor will enhance connectivity between West, North and Old Delhi with Central Delhi, while the other two corridors will link South Delhi with the domestic airport Terminal-1, providing seamless urban mobility.

These extensions—part of the Magenta Line and Golden Line—are expected to boost economic activity, reduce traffic congestion, and cut vehicular emissions.

Stations planned on the R.K. Ashram Marg–Indraprastha stretch include R.K. Ashram Marg, Shivaji Stadium, Central Secretariat, Kartavya Bhawan, India Gate, War Memorial–High Court, Baroda House, Bharat Mandapam, and Indraprastha. The Tughlakabad–Kalindi Kunj section will include Sarita Vihar Depot, Madanpur Khadar, and Kalindi Kunj, while Aerocity will be further connected to IGD Terminal-1.

Meanwhile, construction of Delhi Metro Phase IV—covering 111 km and 83 stations—is underway, with about 80.43 per cent of civil construction completed on priority corridors. Phase IV is expected to be completed in stages by December 2026.

Currently operated by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), the Delhi Metro carries an average of 65 lakh ??????er journeys per day, with a record 81.87 lakh journeys on August 8, 2025. With 12 lines spanning nearly 395 km and 289 stations, Delhi Metro remains the largest metro network in India and one of the largest globally.