With a network spanning over 300 km by this year end, Delhi Metro will join the global elite club of top 10 urban metro rails, a senior Urban Development Ministry official said on Tuesday.
During an event to mark the 22nd Foundation Day of DMRC at Metro Bhawan, Additional Secretary, Urban Development Ministry D S Mishra said, “It started in 1995 and in these 21 years, it has spanned 213 km. But, let me tell you, by end of this year, you (DMRC) will join the top 10 elite club in the world...Having over 300 km of network, like in Beijing, Shanghai and london.”
“Besides, we have more than 300 km of metro network operational in seven cities, more than 600 km of it under construction, as in projects which have been already sanctioned, and we will cross the 1,000 km mark in the next 5 years. Also, another 500 km of it is under different stages of consideration of the Government,” Mishra said.
Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog, Dr Arvind Panagariya, appreciated the performance of the Delhi Metro and said, “It is absolutely astonishing how within a span of 15 years or so, the Delhi Metro has come from zero to over 200 kilometres. The Metro is clean, bright and the trains run on time. It is an island of excellence.”
DMRC Managing Director Mangu Singh highlighted various initiatives taken by Delhi Metro towards providing comfortable and eco friendly travel to the commuters. “In the upcoming phase, we have taken a quantum leap in terms of the technology which will be employed by DMRC. Modern trains, which will eventually run without drivers, highly sophisticated signalling technology known as CBTC (Communication Based Train Control) will be introduced,” he said.
Dr Singh also informed that the Delhi Metro had already commissioned over 6 MW of solar power and had awarded contracts for another 20 MW. He said that as per an MoU with the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), an off-site solar power plant would be established from where DMRC would get power directly. Such a site had already been identified in Madhya Pradesh where a solar plant with capacity of 750 MW was being planned.
During the event, the Mandi House Metro station was adjudged the ‘Best Metro Station’ and Rajeev Kumar Verma, Senior Group Station Manager (Malviya Nagar and Saket) received the Metro Person of the Year award. The Metro Women of the Year Award, was given to Shikha Bhatnagar, Senior Train Operator/Red line.
Besides these, 43 more employees from various departments were also awarded for their meritorious performance. An employee from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) was also awarded for his contribution towards maintaining security in DMRC.