Golden Line (Delhi Metro)

The Golden Line (Line 10) is an under-construction rapid transit line of the Delhi Metro. It will connect southern Delhi directly with Indira Gandhi International Airport to relieve the increasing traffic, congestion and pollution on roads. It will start from Terminal 1-IGI Airport, which was previously planned from Delhi Aerocity, and end in Tughlakabad.[2] It will be 25.82 km (16.04 mi) long with 16 stations, out of which four will be elevated and 12 will be underground. Construction began on the line in June 2022, as part of the fourth phase of the Delhi Metro's development, and is expected to be completed by March 2026.[3][4][5][6]

Golden Line
(Line 10)
Overview
StatusUnder construction
OwnerDelhi Metro
LocaleDelhi
Termini
Stations16
Elevated: 4
Underground: 12
Service
TypeRapid transit
SystemDelhi Metro
Operator(s)Delhi Metro Rail Corporation
History
Planned openingMarch 2026; 1 year's time (2026-03)[1]
Technical
Line length25.82 km (16.04 mi)
CharacterUnderground and elevated
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Electrification25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead catenary
Route map

Terminal 1-IGI Airport
Indira_Gandhi_International_Airport#Terminal_1
Delhi Aerocity
Mahipalpur
Vasant Kunj
Vasant Kunj Depot
Kishangarh
Chhatarpur
Chhatarpur Mandir
IGNOU
Neb Sarai
Saket G-Block
Ambedkar Nagar
Khanpur
Sangam Vihar-Tigri
Maa Anandmayee Marg
Pul Pehladpur
Tughlakabad Station
Sarita Vihar Depot

Lajpat Nagar
Andrews Ganj
Greater Kailash-1
Chirag Delhi
Pushpa Bhawan
Saket District Centre
Pushp Vihar
Saket G Block

History

The Golden Line, initially named as Silver Line, was conceptualized by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) under the Phase IV of Delhi Metro's future expansion and development in July 2016. As per the plan, six new lines covering a length of about 104 km (65 mi) have been planned to be added to the metro network, out of which the Golden Line would cover southern Delhi at a length of 20.2 km (12.6 mi). The plans were finalized for implementation by the Government of Delhi in December 2018; this time the length of the Golden Line increased to 23.6 km (14.7 mi).[7] In March 2019, the plans were approved for construction by the Government of India. Thus, land acquisition for Phase IV and Golden Line began from April 2019, and was completed by three years. Construction was supposed to begin from 2021, but was delayed due to the restrictions imposed by the government due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hence, construction was started by Afcons Infrastructure and Larsen & Toubro in June 2022.[3][4] It was expected to be completed by 2024/25, which has been extended to March 2026, as of January 2024.[1]

In November 2020, the DMRC changed the alignment of the Golden Line as per the instructions of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to circumvent the Qutb Minar and the Mehrauli Archaeological Park, so to avoid any harm to these critical historical sites during construction and operation.[6] As per the initial plan, the line was proposed to be extended to Terminal 1 of Indira Gandhi International Airport, in order to provide commuters a faster and direct link to the airport's premises. The proposal was approved by the Government of Delhi after the DMRC created and showed a Detailed Project Report (DPR) in December 2023, thereby increasing the line's length to 25.82 km (16.04 mi).[8][9] The name of the line was changed from 'Silver Line' to 'Golden Line' in January 2024.[5][10]

Stations

The stations being built on the Golden Line are:[6][11]

Golden Line
No.Station NamePhaseOpeningInterchange ConnectionStation LayoutPlatform Level TypeDepot ConnectionDepot Layout
EnglishHindi
1Terminal 1 - IGI Airportआईजीआई एयरपोर्ट - टर्मिनल 142026[12]Magenta LineUndergroundIslandNoneNone
2Delhi Aerocityदिल्ली एरोसिटी42026[13]Airport ExpressUndergroundIslandNoneNone
3Mahipalpurमहिपालपुर42026NoneUndergroundSideNoneNone
4Vasant Kunjवसंत कुंज42026NoneUndergroundSideVasant Kunj DepotAt Grade
5Kishangarhकिशनगढ़42026NoneUndergroundSideNoneNone
6Chhatarpurछत्तरपुर42026Yellow LineUndergroundSideNoneNone
7Chhatarpur Mandirछत्तरपुर मंदिर42026NoneUndergroundIslandNoneNone
8IGNOUइग्नू42026NoneUndergroundIslandNoneNone
9Neb Saraiनेब सराय42026NoneUndergroundIslandNoneNone
10Saket G-Blockसाकेत जी-ब्लॉक42026Golden Line
(Phase 4 - Proposed Branch)
ElevatedSideNoneNone
11Ambedkar Nagarअम्बेडकर नगर42026NoneElevatedSideNoneNone
12Khanpurख़ानपुर42026NoneElevatedSideNoneNone
13Sangam Vihar - Tigriसंगम विहार - तिगड़ी42026NoneElevatedSideNoneNone
14Anandmayee Margआनंदमयी मार्ग42026NoneUndergroundIslandNoneNone
15Pul Pehladpurपुल पहलादपुर42026NoneUndergroundIslandNoneNone
16Tughlakabad Stationतुग़लक़ाबाद स्टेशन42026Violet LineUndergroundIslandNoneNone

Project timeline

  • April 2019: Land acquisition begins for the Golden Line.[10]
  • January 2024: The name of the line was changed to 'Golden Line' from 'Silver Line' by the DMRC. It is expected to be completed by March 2026.[5][1]

Train Info

Golden Line
RakesAlstom Metropolis
Train Length13 Trains with six cars per train
Train Gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Electrification25 kV 50 Hz AC through overhead catenary (OHE)
Train's Maximum SpeedTBD
Train OperationDelhi Metro

See also

References