The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is set to introduce the country’s first Metro corridor designed to operate with three-coach trains on the upcoming Lajpat Nagar to Saket G Block line.
Part of Phase IV of the Delhi Metro expansion, this corridor aka Brown Line will be the second shortest in the network at 8 km, according to a DMRC spokesperson. The corridor is still in the planning stage.
The shortest corridor is the Grey Line from Dwarka to Dhansa Bus Stand — 5.19-km-long.
Other corridors on the Delhi Metro operate with six or eight coaches.
According to the spokesperson, the corridor is being developed after an assessment of passenger flow that takes into account the nature of the commute on the stretch. It is aimed at short-distance travellers who require frequent and efficient services, and the three-coach configuration has been developed specifically for this category of commuters.
The decision to use shorter trains has been taken to improve operational efficiency on short-distance routes, the official said. Shorter trains mean quicker turnaround times, allowing for a more efficient frequency cycle.
Additionally, smaller train lengths result in lower energy consumption per trip, making the system more environmentally responsible and cost-effective.
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Each coach, according to the spokesperson, is expected to accommodate around 300 passengers — combining both seating and standing capacity. With three coaches per train, the total capacity will be about 900 passengers per trip.
The corridor is expected to handle between 60,000 to 80,000 passengers daily when it becomes operational, with projections crossing 1.2 lakh daily riders by 2041 as frequency increases.
It has been designed to be scalable, with provisions to enhance train frequency in the future based on demand.
The eight stations — Lajpat Nagar, Andrews Ganj, Greater Kailash, Chirag Delhi, Pushpa Bhawan, Saket Court, Pushpa Vihar, and Saket G Block — have been planned with a platform (station box) length of 74 metres, which is optimised for three-coach operations, said the spokesperson.
Improving connectivity
The line will connect densely populated and commercially significant areas in South and Central Delhi.
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Lajpat Nagar will continue to act as a major interchange, with both the Pink and Violet lines, and is a prominent commercial and transit hub. The Chirag Delhi station will improve connectivity in South Delhi and offer an interchange with the Magenta Line. Saket G Block will serve as an interchange with the upcoming Golden Line, which will connect to the Delhi Airport.
The corridor is also expected to improve access to various residential and institutional areas. Andrews Ganj will serve nearby educational and residential zones, while Pushpa Bhawan will connect government offices and surrounding housing. Saket Court station will improve connectivity to the District Court Complex and commercial centres like Select Citywalk Mall. Pushpa Vihar will benefit residents of Sectors 1, 3, 4, and 7 in the area.
According to the DMRC, the corridor will contribute to improved last-mile connectivity and help reduce congestion on existing lines. It will also reduce travel time for daily commuters and provide improved access to high-footfall institutional and commercial areas.
The three-coach system is also expected to support economic sustainability while meeting the mobility needs of a growing urban population, it said.