Greater Noida Metro: Good news! Aqua line services thrown open by UP CM Yogi Adityanath

In a big blessing, residents of twin-cities of Greater Noida and Noida in Gautam Buddh Nagar have just seen their commuting woes virtually disappear as the starting date has finally come. The reason is that a new metro corridor, known as the Aqua Line, has been inaugurated for the public by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. This new Metro route would connect Sector 71 station in Noida to Depot Station in Greater Noida, covering a total of 21 stations - 15 of them in Noida and six in Greater Noida -- spread over a distance of 29.7 km. Notably, the trains are designed to run at a maximum speed of 80 kmph, clocking an average speed of 37.5 kmph. 

Inaugurating the Greater Noida Metro Aqua Line, Chief Minister Adityanath said, "Today we dedicate the Noida-Greater Noida metro rail to the people of the region. The Aqua Line, which has been completed in record time, will provide better connectivity to the region and prove a milestone in development of the region." 

The new Metro Aqua line, which will have 19 rakes with four cars each, has a route map that will make it halt on the Sector 76, 101, 81, NSEZ, Noida Sector 83, 137, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, and Greater Noida's Knowledge Park II, Pari Chowk, Alpha 1, Delta 1, GNIDA Office and Depot metro stations.

Commuters, however, expressed concerns that the interchange stations of the Delhi Metro-operated Blue Line and the Greater Noida Metro Aqua Line are not seamless, as they will have to get down at the Sector 52 metro station of the Blue Line. From Sector 52 metro station, which will further get extended to the Noida Electronic City station, one has to cover a stretch of around 300 metres to reach the Noida Sector 51 station of the Aqua Line.

Earlier, the NMRC had said a skywalk or a foot-over bridge to directly link the two stations was under consideration but so far there is no development in this regard.

Notably, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), which operates the Delhi Metro, will assist the NMRC over the next one year in operating the Aqua Line.

Noida-Greater Noida Aqua Line Metro Route Map

Greater Noida Metro Aqua Line fares chart had been announced in December 2018, with the minimum being Rs 9 and the maximum Rs 50. Commuters can buy QR-coded paper tickets or use the smart cards to get 10 per cent discount on fares, the officials were quoted as saying.

Noida-Greater Noida Aqua Line Metro fare: The NMRC has adopted a similar approach like Delhi Metro where fares for Smart Card holders will be cheaper. Travelling one station would cost Rs 10 on an QR-coded ticket and Rs 9 via smart card; 2 km would cost Rs 15 on ticket and Rs 13.50 on smart card; 3 to 6 km would cost Rs 20 via ticket and Rs 18 on smart card; 7 to 9 km would cost Rs 30 on ticket and Rs 27 on smart card; more than 10 stations but less than or 16 stations would cost Rs 40 via ticket, but Rs 36 via smart card; and going beyond 16 stations would cost Rs 50 via ticket but Rs 45 via smart card.

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For security of the Aqua Line, the 49th battalion of the UP PAC has been entrusted with the responsibility, while some private security personnel will also be deployed.