Gurgaon all set for Rapid Metro

India's first private Rapid Metro is set to start operation in Gurgaon in Haryana from Thursday morning, using a common ticketing system with Delhi Metro.

In what is expected to change the landscape of Gurgaon, which borders Delhi, Rapid Metro Gurgaon connects with Delhi Metro's Yellow Line from Sikanderpur station here.

The country's first fully privately-financed developed metro system has been launched in the public-private partnership mode.

It was built at a cost of nearly Rs.1,100 crore and took 30 months to reach the present stage.

Sanjeev Rai, managing director and CEO of IL&FS Rail Ltd, said the Rapid Metro, with an elevated route and six stations (currently five), can carry 800 passengers in each trip.

The frequency will be one metro train every four minutes. Services will start Thursday at 6 a.m. and end past midnight. The fare value will be Rs.12.

The launch of Rapid Metro will boost connectivity within Cyber City, the corporate and retail hub of Gurgaon. Nearly one lakh people work or visit the hub each day.

"It is expected that about 30 percent of existing road traffic will move to Rapid Metro, thereby reducing travel time and traffic jams for commuters on Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway," Rai said.

The fare structure of Rapid Metro is integrated with the more popular Delhi Metro, which links the capital both with Gurgaon (Haryana) and Noida and Vaishali in Uttar Pradesh.

Delhi Metro web site will have a link to the Rapid Metro web site. Those holding Delhi Metro Smart Cards can seamlessly use the Rapid Metro.

The Haryana Urban Development Authority provided land for the network.