Delhi’s rapid growth and long-standing traffic congestion have made public transport central to the city’s environmental future. The Delhi Metro, comprising eight lines and more than 230 stations, has played a vital role in reducing private vehicle use and improving air quality. As part of this expansion, John McAslan & Partners worked with engineers Pell Frischmann to design ten new stations for the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation.

Infrastructure in a historic city
Completed to coincide with the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the stations serve a 15-kilometre section of Line 2 extending south from the city centre. The route passes through mixed commercial, residential and institutional districts, with stations strategically located south of Udyog Bhawan and close to the ceremonial heart of New Delhi, near Edwin Lutyens’ government buildings along the Rajpath.

The fast-track nature of the commission presented significant challenges. Construction had to proceed rapidly, while minimising disruption to both daily life and to the surrounding urban fabric. In response, the design prioritised clarity, robustness and repeatability, enabling architectural and structural elements to be prefabricated and assembled efficiently on site.

Efficient and legible design
The stations are characterised by a restrained architectural language that supports legibility, smooth passenger flow and ease of maintenance. Structural systems and materials were selected for durability and ease of construction, while the stations’ consistent design identity underlines their role as part of a coherent metropolitan network contributing to a cleaner, greener city.