Noida’s metro expansion has moved closer to construction, with Larsen & Toubro selected to build the 12.5-kilometre corridor from Botanical Garden to Sector 142 and a second extension from the Greater Noida Depot to Boraki. The Noida Metro Rail Corporation has issued the company a letter of intent, and preparatory work for construction is now under way.
L&T has begun identifying a casting yard where construction materials and precast components will be manufactured and stored. The company is examining two or three possible locations, and the site is expected to be finalised soon. Construction is expected to begin by the end of this month, according to the report.
Both metro corridors will be built by L&T, while NMRC will oversee the work. NMRC officials said the construction would be completed within 36 months of commencement. The entire project will use elevated tracks.
The Botanical Garden–Sector 142 corridor will cost Rs 2,254.35 crore and cover 12.5 kilometres. The stations planned along the route are Botanical Garden, Sector 44, Noida Office Sector 94, Sector 97, Sector 105, Sector 108, Sector 93 and Panchsheel Balak Inter College.
The project is expected to simplify travel between Delhi, Noida and Greater Noida. At present, passengers travelling from Delhi towards Greater Noida typically get off at Noida Sector 52 and transfer through Sector 51 to access the Aqua Line. Once the new corridor is operational, passengers will be able to board a train towards Greater Noida directly from Botanical Garden, reducing the need for the existing transfer.
The contractor’s selection follows two earlier tender attempts in which no company was appointed. NMRC selected L&T through a tender process in August, and the letter of intent was issued around 10 days before the report was published, allowing the company to begin preparations for construction.
The existing Aqua Line is 29.7 kilometres long and has 21 stations. NMRC operates and maintains the line. Its ridership recently crossed one lakh passengers, after which the corporation decided to increase train frequency. The new extensions will add to the network’s reach while connecting Botanical Garden with residential, institutional and office areas along the proposed route.
The immediate milestones are the finalisation of the casting-yard location and the start of construction. NMRC has set a 36-month completion period from the beginning of work.
