Transport Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh with the DMRC officials at the tunnelling city.
| Photo Credit: SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Saturday successfully completed tunnelling at Tughlakabad Railway Colony station in south Delhi for the upcoming Golden Line, a part of the Phase IV of the metro expansion, said a DMRC official.
The tunnel will connect Maa Anandmayee Marg, near Kalkaji Temple, to Tughlakabad station, the last station on the Golden Line.
The DMRC official said the last tunnelling breakthrough of 792 metres, achieved using a tunnel boring machine (TBM), took place in the presence of Delhi Transport Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh, DMRC Managing Director Vikas Kumar, and other officials.
TBMs are designed to bore through various soil and rock layers while minimising disruption to the surface. “They are especially effective in urban settings and have been extensively used in previous metro phases,” the DMRC official said.
According to the official, the breakthrough of a parallel tunnel running across the stretch will be achieved by July this year.
Operation target
Of the 23.62-km stretch of the Golden Line, 19 km is underground and the remaining 4.5 km is elevated. The metro line, according to the DMRC, is expected to be operational by mid-2026 and will feature four interchange facilities: the Magenta Line at Indira Gandhi International Airport’s T-1, the Airport Express Line at Aerocity, the Yellow Line at Chhatarpur, and the Violet Line at Tughlakabad. A total of 15 stations will be located on the Golden Line, comprising 11 underground and four elevated stations.
Once the Golden Line becomes operational, south Delhi will be directly connected to the IGI Airport.
Work in progress
Speaking on the occasion, the Transport Minister said that the breakthrough reaffirms the Centre’s commitment to modern and sustainable urban infrastructure that enhances ease of living, reduces road congestion, and contributes to environmental sustainability.
“Ever since our [Bharatiya Janata Party] government came to power in Delhi, we have worked to restore the public’s trust, and this is now clearly visible in the progress of long-delayed metro phases. What was once stalled is now moving at full speed,” said Mr. Singh.
Published – June 08, 2025 01:22 am IST
