New Metro line in Delhi a hit

New Delhi: After months of uncertainty and controversies, Delhi has finally decided to put behind all cynicism for the Commonwealth Games. As the Delhi Metro corridor between Sarita Vihar and Central Secretariat - the main link to the Jawaharlal Nehru (JLN) Stadium - opened for the public on Sunday, thousands from across the Capital thronged the Metro line for a ride to watch the opening ceremony at the stadium.
The 15-km line was inaugurated for the public at 8 am amid much fanfare as revenue services commenced simultaneously at both stations. Metro officials said trains were scheduled to run at the frequency of two minutes and 40 seconds to cater to the passenger rush expected for the opening ceremony.

While the tickets for the ceremony were priced quite high -- the lowest Rs 1,000 -- Delhiites thronged to the Metro stations to be a part of the multicrore cultural extravaganza, with all Games ticket-holders entitled to a free Metro ride. The mood was jubilant at all the stations on the line, and footfall picked up around noon. While official figures are awaited, according to Delhi Metro estimates, over 70,000 commuters took the trains between 8 am and 5 pm.

The first day of operations, however, was not without its share of technical glitches, with trains being stuck at stations like Nehru Place for over half an hour. "Since the line is expected to be used by a large number of commuters on the first day itself, Sreedharan personally monitored the trains' movement on the line from the Operations Control Centre (OCC) at Metro Bhawan. Senior officials and experts from South Korea and Germany have also been stationed at various places to ensure smooth operations today," a DMRC spokesperson said.
The last trains out of the JLN Stadium station were scheduled to depart at 11.24 pm for passengers going towards Central Secretariat and 11.27 pm for those going towards Sarita Vihar, so that spectators could catch the Metro home. Train timings on this line will be from 6 am to 11 pm Monday onwards.

The Central Secretariat to JLN Stadium line witnessed heavy crowds and jam-packed trains resulting in major chaos, especially at the JLN and Jangpura Metro stations. The commuters, however, were an upbeat lot. "We hope the opening ceremony will help erase the embarrassment caused to the nation during the past fortnight. It is the biggest event after the 1982 Asiad. All my family members have decided to catch the ceremony," said 27-year-old Ashish Kapoor.

Residents feel the Games present an opportunity to showcase a "mature Delhi". "Much has gone wrong in the past few days, but it is now time to embrace the Games with pride and be a part of the event," said Aasma Mirza, a Jorbagh resident. "Much was said about the lack of preparations and arrangements but we must put all that behind. It is a proud moment for all of us. I was not born at the time of the Asiad and I do not know when something of this scale will be held again, so I did not want to miss the ceremony at least," she said.
If the crowd on the Metro lines was anything to go by, the Games has also brought together residents of the Capital and the country, with trains hosting people from across the economic strata and from across the states.

"The Games will let the world learn more about India. Hosting the Games has been a challenge but a magnificent ceremony will change everybody's mood," commuters said.

DMRC chief E Sreedharan and his family were among spectators who took the Metro around 3.30 pm to reach the JLN stadium for the opening ceremony

October-end opening for Airport Line

The high-speed Airport Express Line, which missed its Commonwealth Games deadline, is now most likely to be opened by the end of October, Delhi Metro officials said. Work is still in progress on the 22-km line from New Delhi Metro station to Dwarka Sector 21 via the Indira Gandhi International Airport. Operator Reliance Infrastructure failed to get the mandatory clearance from the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety after two days of inspection on September 27 and 28.

DMRC Managing Director E Sreedharan said on Sunday that the line is not 'very very important for the Games' and missing the deadline will not affect commuters going to the Games venues.

"The Airport Line is not under the control of DMRC. We have done only the civil work, while all the systems work, like tracks, electrification, signalling, rolling stock and air-conditioning is being carried out by Reliance Infrastructure," he said. The DMRC has, meanwhile, slapped a penalty of Rs 11.25 crore on Delhi Airport Metro Express Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of Reliance Infrastructure, for failing to meet the deadline.

Source: The Indian Express