In a significant stride towards providing seamless and hassle free connectivity in the country, the Government of India has embarked on a sustainable expansion of the Metro Rail network. Since the fiscal year 2018-19, the operational Metro Rail network in the country has expanded by about 457 kilometres.
Image Credit (representational): DMRC
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Amid this expansive growth, several notable technological advancements have been witnessed in various Metro Rail networks across the country over the last five years. Some of the noteworthy technological advancements are:
- Introduction of Namo Bharat Train- India’s first State of Art Namo Bharat train with design speed of 180 kmph and operational speed of 160 kmph has been introduced on priority section between Sahibabad to Duhai Depot on Delhi-Meerut RRTS corridor;
- European Train Control System (ETCS) – World’s first State of Art ETCS level II with Hybrid level-III radio based train signalling system on LTE backbone has been introduced on Namo Bharat trains running on priority corridor of Delhi- Meerut RRTS enhancing passenger safety to a new level.
- Platform Screen Door (PSD) – For improved safety and to reduce the risk of accidents, PSD has been jointly developed by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) with National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC);
Image Credit (representational): NCRTC
- National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) – One Nation-One card i.e. NCMC work on all NCMC enabled transport systems in the country;
- QR based Ticketing – QR based ticketing system has facilitated booking of tickets from Mobile based apps;
- Unmanned Train Operations (UTO) – For improved efficiency and quality of service including better utilisation of resources, UTO is functional in certain stretches of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation;
- Indigenous Automatic Train Supervision system (i-ATS) – India’s first indigenously built Automatic Train Supervision System developed by the combined efforts of DMRC.
Image Credit (representational): NCRTC
Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has been implemented on the Red Line of Delhi Metro. These technological advancements have improved urban transportation drastically which is evident from the ridership which has crossed about 1 crore per day at present.
These groundbreaking technological advancements have not only revolutionised urban transportation systems but have also led to a substantial increase in ridership, currently exceeding 1 crore passengers per day. The metro Rail network’s continued evolution reflects a commitment to modernise and enhance connectivity, ensuring a smoother and more efficient commuting experience for citizens across the nation.
Source: PIB- Press Release | Featured Image Credit (representational): DMRC
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