The wait is almost over for thousands of Faridabad residents as on Sunday the first metro train will cross the threshold at Badarpur Metro station at 4 pm to take its first formal journey towards Escorts Mujesar station in Faridabad after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates the stretch.
What is interesting about this stretch is that each metro station, and depot, on the stretch will generate solar power for partial fulfillment of energy requirements of the corridor. Also, the DMRC has applied for ‘Green Building’ certification for its first ever ‘green’ electrical Receiving Sub Station constructed at Faridabad with a host of eco friendly features.
Apart from constructing a wetland sewage treatment plant, Carbon diaoxide sensors and infrastructure for rain water harvesting, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has also installed solar power facilities in all the stations and depots of this section, which will generate around 1.9 MWp (megawatt peak) of electricity.
With the launch of the long-awaited extension of Violet line (line 6), nine stations from Sarai to Escorts Mujesar will cover a large part of the satellite city. The other upcoming stations are NHPC Chowk, Mewala Maharajpur, Sector 28, Badkal Mor, Old Faridabad, Neelam Chowk Arjonda and Bata Chowk. Two more stations, NCB Colony and Ballabgarh, will be added by 2017, metro officials said.
The distance between the two terminal stations, ITO and Escorts Mujesar, would be covered in about one hour and 20 minutes.
According to official estimates, presently the average ridership on the Violet line stands at around 1.92 lakh per day. It is expected to go up by another 2 lakh with the launch of the Faridabad section.
To tackle the oncoming rush, DMRC is pressing into service five six-coach-trains in its line 6 fleet, which consists of 30 trains. The rest will also be converted into six-coach-trains gradually, DMRC said.