Gurgaon: Residents of new sectors in Gurgaon and Delhi’s Dwarka have sought extension of the proposed Kirti Nagar-Palam Metro corridor till Dwarka and Dwarka Expressway, citing growing traffic pressure and lack of reliable public transport between the two cities.A joint delegation of Dwarka Forum and Dwarka Expressway Gurugram Development Association (DXP-GDA) met West Delhi MP Kamaljeet Sehrawat and submitted representations seeking better metro and bus connectivity for commuters travelling between Dwarka, Dwarka Expressway and Gurgaon.Earlier this month, Delhi govt gave a nod to a 9.9-km-long new metro line between Palam and Kirti Nagar. The route will include six stations, including Saraswati Garden, Mayapuri Industrial Area Phase III, IITM Janakpuri and Sagarpur. Interchange points will be available at Mayapuri and Palam.The delegation pointed out that rapid residential and commercial growth along Dwarka Expressway has led to a sharp increase in daily travel between Delhi and Gurgaon, while public transport infrastructure continues to be inadequate. Instead of terminating it at Palam, they said, extending the corridor till Dwarka and further towards Dwarka Expressway would reduce congestion on arterial roads, including NH-48 and Dwarka Expressway, lower vehicular emissions, and improve access to business hubs in Gurgaon.They also pointed to mounting pressure on the DMRC’s Blue Line and Dwarka Sector 21 interchange station, which already witnesses heavy passenger movement during peak hours. The upcoming redevelopment of Bijwasan railway station and future multimodal integration around Dwarka Sector 21 are expected to further increase commuter traffic in the area.C K Rejimon, a founding member of Dwarka Forum, said the demand for a Dwarka-Gurgaon metro corridor has existed for years, but the plans have not moved beyond paperwork.“Delhi Metro started operations in 2002, the Delhi-Gurgaon Yellow Line came in 2004, and the Rapid Metro started in 2012. Even then, the need for a Dwarka-Gurgaon metro corridor was evident. Over the last 12 years, four DPRs linked to this corridor were rejected despite strong demand from residents,” he said.“Major road infrastructure projects such as Dwarka Expressway and Urban Extension Road-II improved road connectivity, but mass transit remained neglected. Even a limited extension from Palam towards Dwarka and Gurgaon can become a game changer for regional mobility,” Rejimon added.The delegation also sought regular DTC bus services between Dwarka Sector 21 Metro station and sectors along Dwarka Expressway in Gurgaon. “A dedicated DTC route would provide affordable public transport, improve last-mile connectivity and strengthen links between Delhi and Gurgaon,” said Sunil Sareen, deputy convener, DXP-GDAResidents said the absence of direct metro and bus connectivity has forced commuters, students and office-goers to depend on private vehicles and taxis, increasing travel costs and traffic load.“Like many daily commuters, I frequently travel to the airport and largely depend on cab services. After the recent fuel price hike, cab fares have gone up, increasing the burden on commuters. Earlier, a trip used to cost around Rs 500, but now fares go up to Rs 630,” said Bharat Nain, a resident of Sector 110 in Gurgaon.During the meeting, Sehrawat assured the delegation that the issues raised would be taken up with the agencies and added that the Airport Metro extension to Gurgaon is in its final stages of approval.
