Delhi Metro Devotee Marks 41st Inaugural Ride with New Line Openings
For Anil Marwah, age 65, the inauguration of a new Delhi Metro corridor is not just a civic event—it is a personal tradition. Since the system began operations on December 25, 2002, Marwah has never missed riding the first train on any new stretch. On Sunday, he completed his 41st inaugural ride, boarding the initial service from Deepali Chowk to Majlis Park, followed by a second journey on the Majlis Park–Maujpur Babarpur corridor.
A Passion Born from Global Experience
"It all started as a fun thing to do," Marwah explained. "I work with an airline and had earlier lived in Japan, where I enjoyed travelling by metro. When Delhi got its first metro in 2002, my son and I decided to take a ride from Shahdara. Since then, I have made sure to travel on the first train of every extension." His dedication is so profound that he managed rides on both new corridors opened simultaneously, though he noted the challenge of catching the very first train on the Majlis Park–Maujpur Babarpur stretch due to the overlapping schedules.
Significant Expansions and Engineering Feats
The newly operational sections represent major advancements in Delhi's urban transit. The Majlis Park–Maujpur-Babarpur stretch extends the Delhi Metro Pink Line, while the Deepali Chowk–Majlis Park section adds to the Magenta Line. Notably, with this expansion, the Pink Line has achieved a milestone: it is now the first complete circular route in the network, spanning 71.5 kilometers with 46 stations, making it the longest line currently.
Key engineering highlights include:
- A double-decker viaduct between Bhajanpura and Yamuna Vihar, stretching 1.4 kilometers—the first of its kind in Delhi. Metro trains operate on the upper deck, with the lower deck designed for vehicular traffic. Although trains are already running, the connecting road ramp is slated for completion later this year, pending recent tree-cutting permissions.
- A new Yamuna bridge linking Soorghat and Sonia Vihar, marking the fifth metro bridge over the river. This addition is part of 25 structures along the 22-kilometer Yamuna stretch between Wazirabad and Okhla barrages.
Future Developments and Connectivity Enhancements
During the inauguration event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for three corridors under Phase V-A expansion, which will add 16.1 kilometers to the network. These planned corridors are:
- RK Ashram Marg–Indraprastha
- Aerocity–Indira Gandhi Airport Terminal-1
- Tughlakabad–Kalindi Kunj
The Deepali Chowk–Majlis Park section, fully elevated with seven stations including three interchange points, is expected to significantly improve connectivity between west and north Delhi. A Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) official highlighted that the upcoming Deepali Chowk–Bhalaswa stretch, approximately 8 kilometers along the Outer Ring Road, will further alleviate congestion on this busy corridor.
Looking ahead, the entire Janakpuri West–RK Ashram Marg corridor spans 29.3 kilometers with 22 stations, with remaining sections projected to open in phases between 2026 and 2027. Once additional under-construction corridors from Ramakrishna Ashram Marg to Indraprastha and Indraprastha to Inderlok are completed, the Magenta Line will extend from Botanical Garden to Inderlok, covering about 89 kilometers and surpassing the Pink Line as the network's longest corridor.
Marwah's journey symbolizes the rapid growth and technological innovation of the Delhi Metro, which continues to reshape the city's landscape and daily commute for millions.
