Union Funding of Metro Projects: 2011-12

Projects	Funds Released
	(Rs Crore)
Delhi Metro Rail	621.28
Chennai Metro Rail	1250.00
Kolkata Metro Rail  (East-West Corridor)	136.50
Bangalore Metro Rail	1468.00
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)	186.27
Procurement of Buses	68.26

DMRC established a JV between the Delhi Govt. & the Central Govt.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) was established as a JV between the Delhi Government and the Central Government in 1995 to implement the Delhi Metro rail project.

Currently, two phases of the Delhi Metro project are complete and Phase III is under construction. Delhi Metro Phase III, comprises six corridors in total length of 69.57 km to metro network with 31.11 km of elevated section and 38.46 km of underground section, entailing an investment of `35,000 crore. Underground section with extensions to existing lines as follows:

• From Anand Vihar in East Delhi to Dhaula Kuan in Southwest Delhi
• From Noida to Malviya Nagar
• Jahangirpuri to Badli
• From West Delhi's Ashok Park to Delhi Gate in Central Delhi
• Central Secretariat to Red Fort
• Mukundpur to Rajouri Garden

The project comprises total of 28 underground stations. Around 40 per cent of Phase III will be built underground and three different stretches will pass below the existing underground metro corridors in the city. The underground stretches are as follows:

• From Sarojini Nagar to INA on the Mukundpur-Yamuna Vihar corridor,
• From Indira Gandhi domestic airport to Kalkaji on the Janak Puri West to Kalindi Kunj corridor and Mandi House to ITO stretch.

Currently work on the project is in full swing, the entire project is scheduled for completion by March 2016.

Metro Rail: Policy Development

The Ministry of Urban Development launched the National Urban Transport Policy (NUTP) in 2006 to ensure, accessible, safe, affordable and sustainable mobility for all. The major objectives of the policy are:

Bring about better integration of land use and transport planning so as to improve access to jobs, education, etc.:

• Encourage public transport and non-motorized transport so that the dependence on personal motor vehicles is reduced;
• Offer central government support for investments in cycle tracks and pedestrian paths;
• Offer central government support for investments in mass transit systems;
• Have a more coordinated approach to urban transport management through Unified Metropolitan Transport Authorities;
• Offer support for capacity building at the state level;
• Design parking facilities in a manner that encourages greater use of public transport and non motorized modes as also financial support for construction of parking complexes;
• Provide concessions for the adoption of cleaner fuel and vehicle technologies so that the pollution caused by motor vehicles gets reduced.

In May 2012, the Ministry of Urban Development, constituted an advisory board for metro railways. The board will assist and advise the Central Government on matters pertaining to the metro rail systems coming in various cities in the country. 

Northern grid fails again, Delhi Metro comes to a standstill

Delhi Metro came to a standstill on Tuesday afternoon following the collapse of the Northern Power Grid for the second time in two days, inconveniencing thousands of commuters. 

Metro operations came to a standstill at around 1.10pm after the northern grid failed again, officials said. 

Entry to stations and security checking counters were closed at stations. 

Traffic signals have also stopped functioning affecting smooth movement of traffic. 

Due to Northern Grid failure, all trains services have been suspended. Trains are being brought to the nearest stations for evacuation. DMRC was taking all efforts to ensure the safety and security of the passengers stuck in trains due to power failure. 

Delhi Metro's train schedule went haywire on Monday for at least three hours due to largescale disruption in services owing to a major power failure in the northern grid.

BLACKOUT (The Northern GRID Collapse)

• Delhi Metro began running after 7 am which usually begin at 6 am.

• Out of 19,000 trains, around 300 trains halt, hundreds of passenger stuck between 4 to 11 hours of Indian Railways.

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 Northern GRID Collapsed??

The time saving machine became time consuming machine

When the automated ticket vending machine (ATVM) was installed by the railway authorities, it was meant to be a blessing for those passengers who are waiting in the endless lines for the local train tickets. How far is it true?

According the Railway sources, there are 250 ATVM installed on Central Railway Stations and 115 ATVMs were in Western Railway Stations from Churchgate to Virar. Of which around 40 per cent of the ATVMs were inoperative on the both Western & Central railway lines.

As per the Railways the ATVMs supposed to provide travelers relief from long queues instead they are compounding problems for the passenger.

Flash strike by WR Motormen kill two commuters & injured several

Death on railway tracks is not a new thing in Mumbai. However, most of the time it happens because of the carelessness of the commuters. However, the death of two commuters on 20 July 2012 cannot be ascribed to the above reasons. On that fateful day, the western railway (WR) motorman went on flash strike at 4 pm. without any prior notice. This led to a chaotic condition when offices were closed for the day and Mumbaikers came to the railway station to board train to travel back home.

When the motormen called off their strike at around 8 pm, the crowd gathered at the stations. The commotion was so much that many elderly, week people were injured. The inconvenience caused to the lakhs of commuters including pregnant women, senior citizen and students was unbearable.In this commotion, a 26 year old fashion designer Reema Kulkarni lost her life, when she slipped into the gap between the platforms at Borivali station. Six commuters suffered injuries at different stations while they were trying to board overcrowded trains.

Everyday, the Western Railways carry around 34 lakh passengers from the Mumbai suburbs to the Main land. On that fateful day, because of the untimely strike around 20 lakh passengers had to depend on the limited services of BEST and taxis.