While presenting the Rail Budget for 2016-2017, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on Thursday announced the revival of the almost-defunct Ring Railways of Delhi-NCR, a move that will help reduce vehicular congestion and curb the rising air pollution levels in the Capital.
While announcing a slew of initiatives, Prabhu said that all the 21 stations of the Ring Railways will be modernised under PPP model. He added that the entire work plan shall come out in the next four months. “We will focus more on Ring Railways and in the next four months the entire work plan should be charted out,” said Suresh Prabhu during the Rail Budget speech.
“Delhi, our national Capital, is under severe stress from rising pollution levels and can be provided relief by reviving the Ring Railway system comprising 21 stations. We will partner with the State Government to develop this infrastructure,” read the excerpts of Rail Budget.
“The State Government’s cooperation is hugely required for reviving the Ring Railways. It will be a boon for the public and provide the much need relief from buses and Metros. The Delhi Government shares the onus to ensure better connectivity to get public transport once the passengers get off the Ring Railways. With the collaborative effort, Ring Railways can be a success,” said Arun Arora, Divisional Railways Manager, Delhi Division of Northern Railway.
The average daily ridership comes to a measly 3,700, earning the exchequer somewhere near Rs1 lakh a day. Ridership has continuously gone down over the years. The 35.36km stretch connects 21 stations, including 12 halts and nine block stations.
These include lajpat Nagar, lodhi Colony, Sarojini Nagar, Safdarjung, Chanakyapuri, Patel Nagar, Nizamuddin and Pragati Maidan.