PM flags off driverless metro on Botanical Garden to Kalkaliji line today, Kejrival not invited

The prime minister Narendra Modi alongwith the Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik and the saffron robed chief minister Yogi Aditya Nath today inaugurated the driverless Metro train route on about 10 kilometre Botanical Garden- Kalkaji stretch with the anti BJP Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal conspicuous by his absence.

There has been lot of hue and cry in the political circles and the media for allegedly not sending the invitation to the Delhi chief minister who is said to be the ardent political rival of the BJP as well as prime minister Modi having always been at logger heads with the centre complaining of being meted out the step motherly treatment in terms of poor allocations of finances to the state and the BJP led centre’s complacent attitude towards the AAP government.

In the recent multiple hike of metro fares in Delhi the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejrival has opposed it tooth and nail and asked the central government to withdraw the same. He even offered to give 500 crores to the centre to partly bear the loss enabling reduction in the fares but the centre refused to relent thinking that if they accept the former’s proposal he’ll get the entire credit. The AAP held widespred protest in entire Delhi to oppose the arbitrary Metro Fare hike.

Prime minister Narendra Modi, UP governor Ram Naik and CM Yogi Adityanath took an inaugural ride and opened the Mazenta line for the commuters on the Noida Botanical Garden- Kalkaji route. It may be recalled that just two days ago while on trial the driverless train has hit against the wall and forcefully pierced into it damaging the property.

Metro’s new generation trains, which can operate without drivers, will run on this section aided by the Communication Based Train Control (CBTC) signalling technology. This new-age signalling system can facilitate movement of trains with a frequency of 90 to 100 seconds.

With the commissioning of the new line, the travel time between south Delhi and Noida will be significantly reduced. The direct ride on the Magenta Line from Kalkaji Mandir to Botanical Garden takes 19 minutes while travelling through Blue and Violet Lines between the old stations takes 52 minutes, with interchange facility at Mandi House station.

The new trains will also feature colourful seats, with pink seats in the Women’s coach, orange and blue in the general cars and specific hues to demarcate seats reserved for senior citizens and the specially-abled.

According to TOI the DMRC authorities 10 trains would operate on this new line, while two would be kept on reserve, one each at Kalkaji Mandir and Botanical Garden stations. Initially, trains will operate with a frequency of five minutes and 14 seconds on this section.

It may be recalled that about three lac commuters have given up travelling in Delhi Metro after the terrible manifold increase in merto fares resulting in heavy losses further adding to the fiscal deficit as being claimed by the DMRC authorities.
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SUNIL NEGI
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