Delhi’s rapidly growing Metro network is set to expand further after the Union Cabinet approved Phase 5A, a new development that will add 16 km of metro lines and 13 stations across key parts of the capital. The Rs 12,015-crore project will be executed over the next three years and is expected to push the total operational length of the Delhi Metro beyond 400 km.

Making the announcement, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw underlined the Metro’s role in shaping daily life in the capital. “We all know how the Delhi Metro has positively transformed the lives of residents of Delhi and everyone who travels in and out of the city. With this expansion, a new chapter will be added to the Delhi Metro. For this purpose, a project worth Rs 12,015 crore has been sanctioned,” he said.

The expansion will be implemented through three separate corridors, with most of the new stations built underground. The longest route will run between Ramakrishna Ashram Marg and Indraprastha, covering nearly 10 km. Two additional links will connect Aerocity to Airport Terminal-1 and Tughlakabad to Kalindi Kunj, strengthening airport and south Delhi connectivity.

Officials say the new lines are aimed at easing congestion in busy zones, improving last-mile access, and offering seamless connectivity to Central Vista offices. The government estimates that nearly 2.6 lakh people could benefit daily, while fewer private vehicles on roads are expected to reduce pollution and fossil fuel use.

The approval coincides with 23 years of Delhi Metro operations, during which the network has grown to over 352 km with 257 stations. DMRC has also earned national recognition, winning the ICI Award 2025 for the Maujpur–Majlis Park corridor, which will become India’s first circular ring metro line once completed.

Meanwhile, work is already underway on the Saket G Block–Lajpat Nagar corridor under Phase IV, highlighting that Delhi’s metro expansion continues on multiple fronts to meet the city’s growing mobility needs.