New Delhi: The government of Japan on Monday congratulated the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and the government of India on the inauguration of the Botanical Garden-Kalkaji Mandir section of the Magenta Line.

Hiramatsu, Japan Ambassador said that Japan is proud to have played a key role in the project.

“The government of Japan is supporting the construction of about 116 km section out of a total of 159 km of Delhi Metro phase 3, through the financing by Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan, amounting to JPY 276.8 billion,” Mr. Hiramatsu said in a statement.

He also said that the Japanese expertise and technologies are also being made available to the Delhi Metro, in areas such as civil works, propulsion systems, signaling and telecom, track and project management.

“Opening up this section between Botanical Garden and Kalkaji Mandir stations is expected to boost the public transport network in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh and to ease daily commuter’s travel,” he said.

He added, “This expansion of the metro networks will also reduce traffic congestion and air pollution.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 12.64km of the Botanical Garden-Kalkaji Mandir section of the Line on Monday, after which the section will be thrown open for the public.