In a decisive move to tackle the capital's chronic air pollution crisis, the Delhi government has positioned the rapid expansion of the Delhi Metro at the heart of its strategy. The administration has announced a substantial increase in funding and cleared long-standing financial liabilities to accelerate the execution of crucial Metro projects.
Major Financial Push for Three New Corridors
The state cabinet has granted financial approval for three significant Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) corridors under Phase-IV. These include the Lajpat Nagar to Saket, Inderlok to Indraprastha, and Rithala to Kundli routes. The government will bear a financial responsibility of Rs 3,386.18 crore for these projects. Officials confirmed that an amount of Rs 940 crore has already been released in the current financial year, with another instalment of Rs 336 crore in the pipeline.
In a critical step to ensure smooth progress, the government has also decided to clear pending liabilities worth nearly Rs 2,700 crore related to Metro Phases I, II, and III. These dues had accumulated over several years. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta emphasized that settling these liabilities on time is essential for maintaining the momentum of Metro expansion and restoring confidence in long-term transport planning for the National Capital Region.
Historic Budget Increase for Transport
This intensified focus on Metro expansion is backed by a historic surge in the transport department's budget. The allocation has risen by nearly 60% — from Rs 5,702 crore in 2024–25 to a substantial Rs 9,110 crore in 2025–26. A significant portion of this, Rs 2,929 crore, has been specifically earmarked for Metro projects. This marks a dramatic jump from the approximately Rs 500 crore allocated for the same purpose in the previous year.
Construction Accelerates on Key South Delhi Link
On the ground, construction work has already commenced on the 8-km Saket G Block–Lajpat Nagar corridor, which is part of the Golden Line. This elevated corridor is the fourth section of Phase-IV where physical work has started. It will feature eight stations: Lajpat Nagar, Andrews Ganj, GK-1, Chirag Delhi, Pushpa Bhawan, Saket District Centre, Pushp Vihar, and Saket G Block. The groundbreaking ceremony was held at Pushpa Bhawan.
Officials state that this corridor will dramatically improve connectivity across south Delhi, linking key residential and commercial hubs like Greater Kailash-1, Saket, and Pushp Vihar. It will also enhance access to several schools and government offices. A key feature is its seamless integration with existing Metro lines. It will connect with the Magenta Line at Chirag Delhi and with the Violet and Pink Lines at Lajpat Nagar, transforming the latter into a major triple interchange hub in south Delhi. The line will also link up with the under-construction Tughlakabad–Aerocity corridor of the Golden Line.
Innovatively, the Delhi Metro will operate India's first three-coach train system on this relatively short corridor, a model tailored for dense urban travel. Each coach will accommodate around 300 passengers, allowing nearly 900 commuters to travel per trip.
Broader Phase-IV Vision and Political Commitment
The Saket–Lajpat Nagar corridor is part of a broader Phase-IV expansion plan involving six new corridors. Construction is currently active on four corridors: Janakpuri West-RK Ashram, Majlis Park-Maujpur, Aerocity-Tughlakabad, and Saket G-Lajpat Nagar. Meanwhile, tendering and pre-construction work are advancing for the Inderlok–Indraprastha and Rithala–Narela extensions.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta articulated the government's priority to build a comprehensive Metro network that makes public transport the first and most attractive choice for commuters. She stated this aligns with the Prime Minister's vision of developing a zero-emission, sustainable transport system for Delhi-NCR. Gupta also highlighted that the Delhi government's active representation on the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) Board is improving coordination, ensuring timely funding, and speeding up project implementation. She remarked that the neglect of public transport expansion by previous governments contributed to the severity of Delhi's current pollution problem.
