Haryana CM re-inaugurates Rapid Metro's commercial operation

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday re- inaugurated the commercial operation of the Rapid Metro Phase-2, which was inaugurated by IL&FS Rail Ltd. CEO Rajiv Banga on March 31.

"Tuesday's inauguration was a formal one, though train service on the Rapid Metro Phase 2 was available to commuters after the inauguration by Banga," Rapid Metro's spokeswoman Gunjan told IANS.

The Haryana Urban Development Agency is the state organisation involved in the project on the Public-Private Participation model.

RTI activist Harinder Dhingra told IANS that the re-inauguration was done only to help Rapid Metro since the company was allegedly misappropriating government stamp duty.

Earlier too, Khattar had re-inaugurated various projects, including a private hospital in Sector 56 here in 2015, and a main road in DLF area last year.

On March 31, Rapid Metro began commercial operations of its second phase to connect the residential areas of Sector 55-56 here with Delhi Metro at Sikanderpur station.

The second phase of Rapid Metro has six stations -- Sikanderpur, DLF Phase-1, Sector 42-43, Sector 53-54, Sector 54 Chowk, and Sector 55-56 in Gurugram, a distance of nearly seven km.

Twelve trains run on the route, with two on stand-by. The first train is available at 6.05 a.m. and the last 35 minutes past midnight. The trains operate at a frequency of around five minutes.

Tokens bought for Delhi Metro rides are valid for travel by Rapid Metro, and commuters are able to change to the latter network from the Yellow Line at Sikanderpur through a skywalk.

--IANS

pradeep/tsb/bg