Delhi Metro service between Tis Hazari and Inderlok stations would be briefly affected over the weekend due to maintenance and repair work. Trains would operate on a single line between the two stations, which fall on the Red line (line 1) with three intervening stations, namely Pulbangash, Pratap Nagar and Shastri Nagar, on May 9 and May 10.
“On Saturday, the frequency of trains would be approximately 18 minutes between 6 am and 7.30 am whereas on Sunday, the frequency would be the same between 10 am and 12.30 pm,” a spokesperson said.
Officials said this was necessitated due to track maintenance work between Pulbangash and Pratap Nagar stations. However, normal train services would remain available between Inderlok to Rithala, and Tis Hazari to Dilshad Garden sections for that duration.
“While a lot of maintenance work is carried out at night when the Metro operations are stopped, not all work can be carried out in that four-hour window. But to make sure that a lot of inconvenience is not caused to the commuters, we make sure that any such maintenance work, if has to be carried out during operational hours, is carried out at a time when the traffic is not too high,” said an official.
It is interesting to note however that the operation of ITO Metro station is “indefinitely” delayed over the issue of “single-line operation”. In fact, it has been reported that an amendment in the Metro Railways (Operation and Maintenance) Act, 2002 may be needed to operationalise the ITO Metro station while single line operation of Delhi Metro is a regular practice whenever maintenance work is being carried out in one of the tracks.
However, the reversing of Metro trains is not carried out on the stations where only one line is operational even while maintenance work is going on. Reversing of trains on the single track is also one of the reasons for the ITO station not being made operational.