Walkway Linking Blue Line, Aqua Line Metro Stations, Inaugurated

Commuters interchanging between Blue and Aqua lines will now get a major relief as a 300-metre walkway connecting the metro stations of Sector 51 on the Aqua Line and Sector 52 on DMRC's Blue Line, was inaugurated on August 18, 2019. The Noida Metro Rail Corporation had also provided free solar powered e–rickshaw services in this stretch to facilitate connectivity between the two metro rail networks.

Noida-Greater Noida Metro Registers 88% Increase In Ridership

The Noida-Greater Noida Metro completed six months of operations on July 25, 2019 and according to the data provided by the Noida Metro Rail Corporation, it ferried 14,827 passengers daily on an average and has registered an 88 per cent increase in ridership. 

Operated by the Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC), the Aqua Line between the twin cities in Gautam Buddh Nagar adjoining Delhi was flagged off on January 25, 2019, by Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath and Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. According to the NMRC, the frequency between trains was reduced from 10 minutes to 7 minute 30 seconds, during peak hours and from 15 minutes to 10 minutes during non-peak hours on weekdays. The number of trips on weekdays increased to 221 from 163.

All You Need To Know About Noida-Greater Noida Metro

Noida and Greater Noida property markets got a major thrust after the Aqua Line connecting the two real estate hotspots was thrown open to public on January 25. The route, which was inaugurated by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath and Housing Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, covers over 29 kilometre, improving connectivity in the satellite city. The construction on this project started in May 2015, and it received the final safety clearance in December last year.

Here is all you need to know about this rapid mass transit system:

Route: The Aqua Line runs through some of the prominent residential and commercial localities of Noida and Greater Noida. The route has 21 stations, 15 of these are in Noida, and the remaining six in Greater Noida. These stations include Sector 51, 71, 78, 101, 81, Dadri Road, Sector 83, 137, 142, 143, 144, 147, 153, 146, 149 in Noida, and Knowledge Park-II, Pari Chowk, Alpha 1, Alpha 1, Delta 1 and Depot Metro Station in Greater Noida.

Fare: Those travelling in the Aqua Line have to pay a fare ranging between Rs 9 and Rs 50. While daily commuters could use their smart cards to travel in the Metro, other could buy QR-coded paper tickets using vending machines installed at the stations.

Cost: The Aqua Line was built by the Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC) at a cost of Rs 5,503 crore.

The Delhi connection: The Noida Metro is connected to the Delhi Metro’s Blue Line through a dedicated pathway and and a carriage-way for e-rickshaws. This pathway will cover a distance of around 300 metre between the Sector 51 Metro Station, the terminus of the Aqua Line in Noida, and the Sector 52 Metro Station of the Delhi Metro’s Blue Line. 

“While people have the option to walk the pathway, five solar-powered e-rickshaws are available at two stations to ferry commuters free of cost. While a rickshaw ride would take around 1.20 minutes, walking the stretch would take around 3.50 minutes,” Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC) Executive Director P D Upadhyaya told media.

Commuters will, however, have to undergo security check while interchanging. Metro cards/tokens used on one line cannot be used on the other line.  

Impact on real estate

The Aqua Line, which connects some of the prime residential and commercial real estate hotspots in the Noida region, will boost connectivity.  This means homebuyers, who have been shying away from making an investment in the deeper pockets of Noida will now be willing to make a move as the Metro will provide them better connect within the city and the national capital.

Consequently, rates of properties in areas are likely to go up. Data available with PropTiger.com show average rate of property in Noida currently stands at Rs 4,920 psf while one has to pay Rs 3,255 psf to buy property in Greater Noida.