Extra metro trains for Raksha Bandhan

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has decided to run around 300 extra trains each on Tuesday and Wednesday, in anticipation of the rush of commuters on Raksha Bandhan, an official statement issued here Sunday said.

"In view of the high ridership observed on Rakhi day, and the day before it for the past few years, DMRC has decided to run extra trains and deploy additional personnel to cater to the extra rush of commuters expected on these two days," the DMRC statement said.

According to ridership figures, in 2012, over 22 lakh passengers travelled the day before Raksha Bandhan by metro; close to 20 lakh riders took the metro trains on the day of Rakhi.

Raksha Bandhan, the Hindu festival that celebrates the relationship between brothers and sisters, will be celebrated Wednesday.

DMRC also said that an eight-coach metro train would start running on the commuter service line connecting Dwarka in west Delhi with Noida and Vaishali in Uttar Pradesh, starting Monday.

"This will be the first of a total of 31 eight-coach trains which will be introduced on the blue line in a phased manner," the statement said.

Delhi Metro hit a high ridership figure of 25 lakh passengers recently. Its operational network has grown to 190 km. Metro services began in Delhi in 2002.

--Indo-Asian News Service

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