Metro to roll out India’s first 3-coach train corridor in Delhi

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is set to introduce the country’s first metro corridor designed for operations with three-coach trains on the upcoming Lajpat Nagar–Saket G Block route.

As part of Phase-IV of the Delhi Metro project, the corridor would span 8 km and be the second-smallest in the network, the DMRC said in a statement.

The line was aimed at enhancing last-mile connectivity and ensured seamless interchange with existing corridors, it said.

Unlike other metro lines that operate with four, six or eight coaches, the new corridor would use three-coach trains, developed specifically for short-distance urban travel, the statement said.

The smaller train configuration was expected to be a cost-effective and agile solution that ensured better frequency and operational efficiency while accommodating a significant number of daily commuters, it added.

The DMRC said the decision was based on a realistic assessment of passenger flow. While high-density routes need longer trains, the Lajpat Nagar–Saket stretch catered primarily to short-distance travellers requiring frequent and efficient services, it added.

The corridor’s estimated Peak Hour Peak Direction Traffic (PHPDT) would allow for a comfortable commute without the need for overcapacity, the DMRC said.

The three-coach system was aimed at ensuring economic sustainability while maintaining high-quality urban transit standards, it said. Each coach would have a seating and standing capacity of around 300 passengers, bringing the total capacity of a three-coach train to approximately 900 passengers per trip.

The corridor would have eight strategically located stations from Lajpat Nagar to Saket G Block to improve accessibility for key residential and commercial areas, the statement said.

The station platforms had been designed with a length of 74 m, optimised for three-coach train operations, it said.

“In March 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for this project. The construction work has now commenced, and the corridor is expected to be completed by 2028,” a DMRC official said.