Rapid Metro on Friday began the commercial operation of its second phase to connect residential areas in Sector 55-56 here with Delhi Metro at Sikanderpur station.

The journey time from Sector 56 to Sikanderpur station to board the Delhi Metro now be only around 10 minutes, officials said.

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Earlier, commuters needed to depend on autos and buses to catch the Delhi Metro rake from Sikanderpur. Traffic jams were routine.

The second phase of Rapid Metro has six stations — Sikanderpur, DLF Phase-1, Sector 42-43, Sector 53-54, Sector 54 Chowk and Sector 55-56 in Gurugram, over a distance of nearly seven km.

However, of these, only three stations would be operational for the time being with Sector 42-43 and Sector 54-55 remaning out of bounds for commuters. 

"The remaining stations will be put into service soon," a Rapid Metro spokeperson told IANS.

The construction of Rapid Metro's second phase was started in January 2013 and was to be completed by July 2015.

There will be 12 trains on the new route, with two on stand-by. The first train will be available at 6.05 a.m. and the last 35 minutes past midnight.

The trains will operate at a frequency of around five minutes.

The connection of the two dense areas "will not only address the transportation needs of those who have their offices located on the Golf Course Road, South Gurgaon but large residential societies in the area as well", a Rapid Metro Gurgaon statement read.

The token bought at the Delhi Metro will be valid at Rapid Metro, and as before, commute