Phase III of Delhi Metro – engineering breakthrough in India's largest rail network

Delhi Metro is the largest underground rail network in India, serving not only the capital city but also the surrounding satellite cities of Faridabad, Gurgaon, Noida, and Ghaziabad in the National Capital Region (NCR). The system is operated by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Limited (DMRC) – a joint venture between the Government of India and the Government of Delhi.

With an average daily ridership of over 2.7 million passengers, Delhi Metro continues to expand in both reach and technical standards.

---

Phase III – the most ambitious expansion phase

Phase III, launched in 2011, marked the most complex stage of the network's expansion. It included:

• 28 new underground stations,
• 2 brand-new metro lines,
• 11 route extensions,
• and a total of 167.27 km of new track.

Major construction was completed by 2019, at a total cost of approximately USD 5.5 billion, with significant financial support provided by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

As of July 2017, the total length of the Delhi Metro network reached 512.26 km, making it one of the largest metro systems in the world by route length.

---

Rawlplug fixings in underground infrastructure

During construction of the underground sections of Phase III, Rawlplug fixing systems were used to securely anchor infrastructure components – including technical walkways and other auxiliary installations.

Products used on-site included:

• R-KEX II – epoxy resin bonded anchors with threaded rods, designed for heavy-duty applications in concrete,
• R-HPTII-ZF – throughbolt anchors with zinc flake coating, providing excellent corrosion resistance and structural reliability in demanding underground conditions.

The use of Rawlplug solutions in one of India’s most technically challenging infrastructure projects highlights their durability, safety, and compliance with international engineering standards.