Way cleared for Metro Rail operations on single line; Delhi and Chennai Metros to benefit from changes to Metro Railway General Rules

Services on Mandi House - ITO section of Delhi and Koyambedu-Alandur section of Chennai Metro to begin soon

Commuters of Delhi are now set to avail Metro Rail services between Mandi House and ITO Stations very soon. The much awaited relief is made possible with the Ministry of Urban Developing amending the Metro Railway General Rules, 2013 enabling Metro Rail operations on single line and notifying the same. There was no provision in the Rules of 2013 for such operations.

Construction of single line of Mandi House-ITO section of Metro Rail was completed by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation in January, 2015. But operations on this 971 meter section could not be started since safety inspection could not be carried out as per the provisions of the Metro Railway General Rules, 2013.

The Ministry of Urban Development held several rounds of discussions with Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS), Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS), Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, Ministry of Civil Aviation who is the controlling authority of CRS, Ministry of Railways and experts to resolve the issue. Finally, at an inter-agency meeting chaired by the Minister of Urban Development Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu it was decided to amend the Rules of 2013 to enable operations on single line metro sections pending commissioning of the other line. The amendment to these Rules was carried out in consultation with the Ministry of Railways and the Ministry of Law & Justice.

Further to the amendment notified by the Ministry of Urban Development, Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety would carry out Safety inspection soon and metro services between Mandhi House and ITO would be started immediately thereafter. This is expected to benefit 22,000 passengers to begin with and 31,000 by 2021 enhancing DMRC's annual revenue by Rs.8.00 cr.

The amendment to the Rules of 2013 also benefits Chennai Metro enabling operations on the 2.88 km. section between Ashok Nagar and Alandur after safety inspection, there by facilitating metro connectivity between Koyambedu and Alandur(7.22 kms). This will be the first section of Chennai to become operational.

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