New Delhi region: Cabinet clears Aqua Line metro extension to Greater Noida — 8.4 km, five new stations

India's Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday (11 November) approved an extension of the Noida Metro Aqua Line from Noida Sector 51 to Greater Noida Sector 4: an 8.449 km elevated corridor with five stations, costing 2,390 crore rupees and targeted for completion in four years. Noida and Greater Noida are satellite cities in the National Capital Region around New Delhi, and the extension pushes metro service into Greater Noida West's fast-growing residential and industrial belt.

Five new stations, with a Blue Line interchange at Sector 61

All five new stations will be elevated: Noida Sectors 61, 70, 122 and 123, and Greater Noida Sector 4. Sector 61 will interchange with the Delhi Metro's Blue Line, meaning passengers will be able to travel from Delhi by metro directly to Greater Noida. Once operational, the combined metro network across Noida and Greater Noida will total 71.878 km.

IT parks, malls and housing to benefit

Announcing the approval, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said commercial hubs, multinational companies, IT parks, educational institutions, healthcare facilities and major residential clusters along the corridor would gain seamless connectivity, saving commuters time and money. Reported landmarks along the route include Gaur City Mall, Blue Sapphire Mall, IKEA, Tech Mahindra, schools and hospitals. Home Minister Amit Shah and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath welcomed the decision, saying it would ease commuting and accelerate economic growth in the region.

Background: India's first driverless metro

The Aqua Line opened in December 2019 as India's first driverless automated metro, a 29.7 km corridor linking Noida and Greater Noida that quickly became a lifeline for tech-sector workers and students. The extension continues the same corridor: follow growth, absorb demand and cut road congestion. Cabinet approval is the starting point; tenders, funding release and detailed design will determine when construction begins and trains actually run.

(File photo: a Noida Metro Aqua Line train. Image: SSMB.)