In Phase III, Delhi Metro is planning to construct 108 kilometres of additional lines
In Phase III, Delhi Metro is planning to construct 108 kilometres of additional lines
The Metro is coming near you, perhaps sooner than you think. So get set for a new age of travel in the National Capital Region (NCR). A senior Delhi Metro official said Delhi Metro trains will have more motor cars, which means more engines, due to which trains will be able to travel faster between stations. Confirming this, Delhi Metro Director, Rolling Stock and Electricals, Satish Kumar, said: "Delhi Metro is to have at least 50 per cent of the coaches as motor cars. Currently, each train has only two motor cars."
Moving on: A Delhi Metro train crossing Jhandewalan area on
Line 3, in New Delhi. Pic/Rajeev Tyagi
On track
"Due to this, trains would pick up speed early and would get better acceleration. We are trying to change the composition but final decision about what exactly it would be is not clear. It is being studied," he said. With the expansion of Delhi Metro, number of stations on the network has increased and officials say, due to this overall speed has gone down as trains have to stop at every station. When again it starts from a station, it takes some time to pick up speed. With more engines, this problem would get solved.
Far and wide
Delhi Metro phase I had 65 kilometres of network with 59 stations. In phase II Metro had 83 stations over 124 kilometres. Delhi Metro mostly has four-coach trains and now six- coach trains have also been introduced. But very soon, more coaches are likely to be added to trains to combat the increased rush.
"We now have six-coach trains and very soon eight-coach trains would also be roped in. So, the trains with 50 per cent motor cars would add efficiency to the present network," said the official. In phase III, Delhi Metro is planning to construct 108 kilometres of additional lines. These will become operational by 2016.The cost of phase III has been worked out at Rs 32,000 crore.
Hitting a six
All trains in phase III will have six coaches, with a provision to be extended to nine-coach trains if required. The frequency of trains is also likely to improve from the present 2.5 minutes to 2 minutes. Officials say the trains that will ply in phase III will be wider and longer, as compared to the existing ones. All trains that will ply on the new corridors will be standard gauge trains. These will have a width of 3.2 metres, instead of the current 2.9 metres, as per the plan.
What's new?
Other key features of new trains would be broader gangways (the passage between two Metro coaches) to facilitate comfortable movement of passengers from one coach to another. The official said present carrying capacity of trains would also be increased from 1,600 passengers, 1,800 people.
The average speed of trains, which is currently 32 km per hour, will go up to 35 km per hour, say Delhi Metro officials. While operating speed would go up to 85 km per hour, trains will be designed to run at a speed of 95 km per hour.
The future
Due to more motor trailer coaches, train drivers will not have to apply the brakes too early when trains approach stations. This will result in increased speed. As many as 40 lakh people are expected to travel by Metro in 2016.
That empty feeling
The Delhi Metro Phase III might hit a roadblock with the retirement of its chief E Sreedharan. The project is already running behind schedule as the final clearance from the group of ministers has not been given yet. The Metro chief is likely to go in December, when DMRC is expecting to start the construction of 108 kilometres. The detailed project report (DPR) for phase 4 also has to be prepared before Sreedharan leaves. The Union government has already asked the DMRC to submit the DPR for phase 4 as soon as possible, said officials. The DMRC is yet to get sanction of soft loan from Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA). The new boss will need sometime to get acquainted with the work culture. If phase 3 is successfully
completed, phase 4 will automatically be on track.
Onu00a0the 'run'
Metro Phase III lines are Jahangirpuri to Badli, Central Secretariat to Kashmiri Gate, Mukundpur to Yamuna Vihar and Janakpuri West to Kalindi Kunj.
Vital stats
297 km
Would be the length of Delhi Metro network after phase III
40 lakh
People are expected to travel by the Metro every day in 2016
Rs 32,000cr
Approximate spending in construction of Metro phase III
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