NEW DELHI - Delhi Metro could run past midnight during the 2010 Commonwealth Games for the convenience of visitors. It would provide safe transport and access to nightlife in the national capital, says a senior Delhi government official.
“We are in discussions with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and have recommended they keep their services running past midnight,” Delhi Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta told IANS.
The move, Mehta said, was in tune with the decision to extend timings for markets and malls in the national capital, which mostly close by 9 or 10 p.m., to late hours.
“Safety is still an issue for transport. Metro is the best bet as there will be less congestion owing to cars - something that Delhi Police have reflected upon,” Mehta said.
The Delhi Metro, which is rapidly becoming the lifeline of the capital, is set to expand from 75 km to 200 km by opening six new lines on its Phase II by October 2010.
Sportspersons as well as spectators will also find the going easy - since 10 of the 11 Games venues will have “easy Metro connectivity”.
The Metro is already well connected to the various tourist attractions like India Gate, the Connaught Place market from the British era, and the buzzing markets in the old city at Chawri Bazaar. With the new lines many open markets like Lajpat Nagar and malls in the national capital will also be on the network.
The Delhi government is in talks with several companies to start a smart card-based ticketing service for integrating public transport during the Games, said Delhi Transport Commissioner R.K. Verma.
“The smart card can be used for travelling in both the Metro and buses. The buses will have automated ticketing machines and fare will be deducted by punching of the smart card,” he said.
With the completion of Phase II, the Metro ridership is expected to go up to 2.5 million daily from the 950,000 average now. To cater to the growing load, the number of trains will be increased 3.2 times, an official said.
Phase II of the Delhi Metro will provide easy access to most of the sports venues - the Commonwealth Games Village, Indira Gandhi Sports Complex and Yamuna Sports Complex (all in east Delhi), Delhi University Ground (north Delhi), Talkotora Indoor Stadium (west Delhi), Thyagaraj Complex, R.K. Tennis Complex and Siri Fort Sports Complex (all in south Delhi) and the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and the National Stadium (central Delhi).
The Delhi Metro operates three popular lines connecting the northern, central, eastern and southwestern parts of Delhi.
By next year, passengers can use the high speed Metro Airport Express Line. Travellers will be able to get their boarding passes for their flights at the NH-8, Indira Gandhi International Airport, Dwarka sector 21 and the Dhaula Kuan Metro stations. Metro trains on this line will run at a speed of 135 kmph and cover the 21-km distance from New Delhi to the airport in 18 minutes.
The entire National Capital Region (NCR), including neighbouring Noida and Gurgaon, will be linked in the 120 km network.
Keeping in mind the Commonwealth Games in October 2010 and thousands of foreigners expected at the time, the DMRC plans to train 600 customer relations assistants as an interface to make travel “easier”.
“Apart from regular training, we are also training them from the tourism point of view. They will guide people the best routes via the Metro and then the buses or rickshaws to reach popular tourist destinations,” a senior Metro official told IANS.
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