Ghaziabad: The Major Mohit Sharma Rajendra Nagar Metro Station, located in Ghaziabad’s thriving Sahibabad Industrial Area, is more than just a transit hub on Delhi Metro’s Red Line. According to officials, the station, later renamed Major Mohit Sharma Station in 2019, is dedicated to the courageous and gallant life of the decorated Indian Army officer who laid down his life to fight terrorists in Kashmir.
In 2010, the then 34-year-old Special Forces paratrooper of the elite 1st Para Regiment was posthumously awarded the Ashok Chakra, India’s highest peacetime gallantry honour. The 32-year-old had led a counterterror operation on March 21, 2009, in which four terrorists were killed in Kupwara, Jammu and Kashmir when he was refused entry to the hospital. The courage he displayed in saving so many lives will continue to live on through his legacy that will now greet commuters daily at this Ghaziabad station now known as Major Mohit Sharma Marg, Sector 5.
The station started operations on March 8, 2019. It established itself as a lifeline for Rajendra Nagar and neighbouring areas, linking residents with Delhi and other regions. Half of the Red Line extension between Dilshad Garden and New Bus Adda has the capability of catering to thousands of passengers at a time with effortless vehicular access to bus lines 205, 243, and 336A and train line EMU 64055, which is astounding, said the two ministers in the statement. The station is an example of integrated transit, with the nearest bus stop just 5 metres away and Sahibabad railway station just 11 minutes away by foot.
But its tribute to Major Sharma is what makes this station come alive. Within, a series of murals and displays capture the story of his life, from passing out of the Indian Military Academy to his final act of bravery. One of the tributes was revealed by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), and another has sentimental value similar to that of Ghaziabad (Sharma’s hometown), where his statue was also set up. Priya Singh, a daily commuter, said, “It is not merely a station; it is a symbol of sacrifice. Over at @cheeto_&_wonder: “His story is our daily motivation.
The station’s sleek design also adds to its charm. Wide platforms, good labelling, and live metro timings make it seamless. It doesn’t have a designated parking lot because it was just built, but cars can find spaces on nearby streets. The station is only 1.5 km from Raj Bagh Metro. It is an essential node in the regional transport network for global travellers beyond the Delhi-Meerut RRTS corridor and their seamless transfer to New Ashok Nagar Metro (of Delhi).
Locally, sentiment skews towards pride in who the station is named after. Anil Tyagi, a shopkeeper near Sahni Tower, said, “This courage of Major Sharma belongs to our city. Social media posts from the time of the announcement echoed this, thanking the DMRC for keeping a local hero alive. Passengers who slide their cards through the fare gates at the station read Sharma’s story emblazoned on vinyl squares attached to the walls, stirring discussions about duty and honour.
The newly opened Major Mohit Sharma Rajendra Nagar station may combine use and deference as the Delhi Metro expands. For commuters, it offers an entry point into the capital; for the nation, it is a permanent tribute to a soldier who did everything but surrender for peace.