Noida: Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC) recorded its highest-ever single-day ridership on Saturday, with 1,05,358 passengers using the Aqua Line. NMRC attributed the increase to passenger-friendly initiatives, including the recently opened skywalk connecting Sector 51 and Sector 52 stations, QR-code-based ticketing and National Common Mobility Card (NCMC).“These measures have contributed to a 20% increase in average daily ridership,” Noida CEO and NMRC MD Krishna Karunesh said.The skywalk project, inaugurated officially on Oct 4, was opened to the public on Aug 28, easing the way for the interchange between the two stations without commuters having to navigate the encroached footpath on the ground.The average daily passenger count rose from 73,298 in Aug to 83,403 in Sept, while the ridership figures for Oct are yet to be compiled.To cater to passenger demand and further improve services, NMRC has also planned to increase train frequency during peak hours by reducing the headway from 7 minutes 30 seconds to 6 minutes 35 seconds with effect from Nov 1, 2026. Noida Metro is also considering an extension of late-night services. Under the proposal, the last train from Sector 51 towards Depot Station would depart at 11:25 pm instead of 10 pm. The proposed change is subject to finalisation of the arrangements and operational feasibility.First opened to the public on Jan 25, 2019, the 29.7-km-long Aqua Line comprises 21 stations and connects Noida Sector 51 to Depot Station in Greater Noida, with ridership taking a hit due to the Covid-19 pandemic and further declining to 12,576 in 2020.Footfall improved in the following years to 14,058 in 2021 and 30,632 in 2022. NMRC recorded 45,881, 52,829 and 61,401 in 2023, 2024 and 2025, respectively. As of Sept this year, the average daily ridership is 66,333 commuters per day.Noida Metro also has plans to develop three extension corridors. In Aug, NMRC selected Larsen & Toubro (L&T) for the construction of two metro corridors – a 2.6-km extension from Depot to Boraki and an 11.56-km stretch from Botanical Garden to Sector 142. NMRC also plans to develop a third route – 8.4 km from Sector 51 to Greater Noida West Sector 4 comprising five stations. Last month, Public Investment Board (PIB) cleared this project.This project will take off once the Union Cabinet gives a final nod, officials said.NMRC wins special award at Urban Mobility India ConferenceNMRC bagged a Special Award at the 19th Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference and Expo 2026, held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, on Sunday.The award, given by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), recognises NMRC’s proactive approach towards reviewing design provisions, assessing their implications for infrastructure projects and promoting technically sound, economical and efficient engineering practices.Officials said NMRC was among the early organisations to undertake geotechnical investigations to evaluate the impact on structural design. Subsequently, following deliberations with MoHUA, NMRC expanded its assessment beyond Metro structures to include building structures, enabling a more comprehensive evaluation of the implications for structural design and potential financial costs.
