Greater Noida: The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation will soon start work on evaluating three options – Metrolite, Metro Neo and Metro Express — to connect the Noida International Airport with Knowledge Park II in Greater Noida and eventually other parts of NCR. DMRC was asked to prepare a fresh report after the earlier one made in 2019 was rejected on grounds of travel time. To cover a distance of 35.6 km, the earlier DPR had suggested 25 stations along the route.

Officials said the new plan would focus on bringing down the travel time to under 25 minutes between the two points by maintaining a speed of 120km an hour. A major portion of the corridor — 32.3 km — would be elevated. At present, the priority is to provide quick connectivity to the Jewar airport from other parts of NCR. Metro connectivity already exists up to Knowledge Park II. Another corridor will have to be constructed to connect the last leg. But so far not more than five to six stations will be planned here,” said Shailendra Bhatia, officer on special duty at the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA).

The new project report will have in detail the cost estimates and pros and cons of the three metro options (lite, neo and express). Before commissioning the fresh study, YEIDA had sought the state government’s approval and got the permission via email on Thursday.

As part of providing multi-modal connectivity to the airport site, YEIDA had committed to delivering a metro link in the Yamuna Expressway region before commercial operations begin at the airport. The earlier study had estimated the cost of the connectivity project to be Rs 5,708 crore. Officials said the elevated portion of the metro corridor would run parallel to the Yamuna Expressway while the one cutting through Greater Noida would be underground. The line would be integrated into the terminal building of the airport. The stretch between Knowledge Park and Jewar is already linked by high-speed carriageways.

Commuters can maintain speed of up to 80km an hour within Greater Noida and increase it to 100kmph as soon as they cross the zero point and get on to the Yamuna Expressway. At present, it takes 45 to 50 minutes to cover the distance between Greater Noida and Jewar by car. The metro is being planned to bring down the travel time,” said an official.

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