The Aqua Line, expected to be functional in April 2018, was first delayed in 2017, after lack of funds delayed the pick up of its made-in-China coaches from Mumbai. The three-month delay in commencement of its major power supply source—a substation in Sector 148, Noida, further delayed its launch. A victim of departmental and administrative delays, the line costing over Rs 5,500 crore was then targeted to be completed in December 2018—the line had already missed two deadlines in April and October. Finally, it was cleared for operations after three trials and approval from the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety. However, December being the month of Kharmas, an inauspicious period in which people do not initiate any new tasks, the project was delayed further. “We were earlier aiming for Christmas 2018 but could not get a date then. We then entered Kharmas and it is unlikely that it [the launch] happens during this period. We’re hoping it’s done after Makar Sankranti with the opening of the new Kalindi Kunj Bridge this month,” a senior Metro official said.