PM Modi marked his 73rd birthday with a special celebration, traveling on the Delhi Metro and inaugurating the extension of the Delhi Airport Metro Express line. On this significant occasion, he interacted with metro employees and commuters, emphasizing the importance of public transportation in the capital. The inauguration ceremony witnessed the expansion of the Airport Express line from Dwarka Sector 21 to the newly established ‘YashoBhoomi Dwarka Sector 25’ metro station. The Prime Minister commenced his metro ride from the Dhaula Kuan station, as reported by the PTI news agency.
In a dual celebration, Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the initial phase of the International Convention and Expo Centre (IICC), known as ‘YashoBhoomi,’ situated in Dwarka. Additionally, he marked the completion of the nearly two-kilometer extension of the Airport Express line from Dwarka Sector 21 to YashoBhoomi Dwarka Sector 25 on this significant day.
The Airport Express line currently extends only up to Dwarka Sector 21, serving as an interchange point with the Delhi Metro’s Blue Line. The newly opened station is poised to provide crucial metro connectivity to residents in the vicinity of Dwarka Sector 25, as well as those residing in the newly developed sectors along the Dwarka Expressway in neighboring Gurugram.
This extension substantially bolsters the Delhi Metro’s extensive network, increasing it to a total of 393 kilometers, with a comprehensive network of 288 stations. Notable additions include the Noida-Greater Noida corridor and the Rapid Metro in Gurugram.
As part of the improvements, the Delhi Metro has also enhanced the operational speed of its trains on the Airport Express line. The trains will now run at an increased speed of 120 kilometers per hour, compared to the previous speed of 90 kilometers per hour, which was in place until March.
The journey from New Delhi to YashoBhoomi Dwarka Sector 25 is expected to take approximately 21 minutes. Furthermore, this extension is set to reduce the travel time between New Delhi and Dwarka Sector 21 from around 22 minutes to approximately 19 minutes, according to officials from the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).
Following the inauguration of YashoBhoomi, Prime Minister Modi paid his respects with a floral tribute to Lord Vishwakarma and launched the ‘PM Vishwakarma scheme’ at the India International Convention and Expo Centre in Dwarka. This scheme, known as “PM Vishwakarma,” will receive full funding from the Union Government, with an allocation of ₹13,000 crore. It aims to support artisans and craftsmen, particularly those involved in the footwear industry in Delhi, empowering them with financial resources to enhance their skills and livelihoods.
The celebration of Prime Minister Modi’s birthday with these significant infrastructure developments underscores the government’s commitment to enhancing public transportation and infrastructure in the capital region. These efforts align with India’s broader goals of promoting sustainable and efficient urban mobility while providing a boost to the nation’s economic growth and development.
