Noida’s Sector 51-52 Metro skywalk set to open after three-year delay

The 400-metre skywalk connecting Noida’s Sector 51 and Sector 52 Metro stations is scheduled to open on Raksha Bandhan, giving Aqua Line and Blue Line passengers an enclosed route for the interchange.

Noida Authority said a beam that had blocked entry to the Sector 52 station has been removed. The L-shaped, air-conditioned walkway will have travelators, CCTV cameras and fire-safety equipment.

Work began in March 2023 and was expected to finish within a year. Excavation revealed an underground Metro cable, requiring the planned single-pillar structure to be redesigned with two-column supports. Winter construction restrictions imposed by the National Green Tribunal and later changes to the alignment added to the delay.

The cost rose from Rs 25 crore to Rs 33 crore after the redesign. Since a temporary covered walkway was dismantled for construction, commuters have been crossing an open and congested stretch shared with autos, e-rickshaws and vendors. Sumit Kumar, a commuter, said the new route would make transfers safer and shield passengers from the weather.

The opening adds another pedestrian-link project to Noida, where work has also begun on a Sector 62 skywalk.