A metro station or subway station is a railway station for a rapid transit system, often known by names such as "metro", "underground" and "subway". Some metro systems, such as those of Montreal, Stockholm, Prague and Moscow, are famous for the beautiful architecture and public art. The Paris Métro is famous for its art nouveau station entrances; while the Athens Metro is known for its display of archeological relics , Sir Norman Foster's new system in Bilbao, Spain uses the same modern architecture at every station to make navigation easier for the passenger, though some may argue that this is at the expense of character. In some stations, especially where trains are fully automated, the entire platform is screened from the track by a wall, typically of glass, with automatic platform-edge doors (PEDs). These open, like elevator doors, only when a train is stopped, and thus eliminate the hazard that a passenger will accidentally fall (or deliberately jump) onto the tracks and be run over or electrocuted. The largest metro station in the world is the Paris Métro-RER station Châtelet-Les Halles in France[1]. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Locale National Capital Region, India Transit type Rapid transit Number of 6 lines [1][2] Number of 132 stations Daily 1.5 million[3][4] ridership Chief E. Sreedharan executive Headquarters Metro Bhawan, Barakhamba Road, New Delhi Website www.delhimetrorail.com Operation Began December 24, 2002[5] operation Operator(s) Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (DMRC) Number of 188 trains[6] vehicles Train length 4/6 coaches[7][6] Technical System length 156 kilometers (97 mi)[1][2] Track gauge 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge and 1,435 1 mm (4 ft 8 ⁄2 in) standard gauge Electrification 25 kV, 50 Hz AC through overhead catenary The Delhi Metro (Hindi: दि쥍ली मेट्रो Dillī Meṭro) is a rapid transit system serving Delhi, Gurgaon and Noida in the National Capital Region of India. The network consists of six lines with a total length of 156 kilometres (97 mi) with 132 stations of which 31 are underground. It has a combination of elevated, at-grade and underground lines and uses both broad gauge and standard gauge rolling stock. Delhi Metro is being built and operated by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Limited (DMRC). As of November 2010, DMRC operates around 2,700 trips daily between 6:00 and 23:00 running with an interval of 2.5 minutes between trains at peak frequency.[8][4] The trains have four coaches, but there are plans to shift to six coach trains to increase capacity.[7][8][9][6] The power output is supplied by 25-kilovolt, 50 Hertz alternating current through overhead catenary. The metro has an average daily ridership of 1.5 million commuters,[3] and, as of August 2010, had carried over 1.25 billion commuters since its inception.[10] Planning for the metro started in 1984, when the Delhi Development Authority and the Urban Arts Commission came up with a proposal for developing a multi-modal transport system for the city. The Government of India and the Government of Delhi jointly set up the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) in 1995. Construction started in 1998, and the first section, on the Red Line, opened in 2002, followed by the Yellow Line in 2004, the Blue Line in 2005, its branch line in 2009, the Green and Violet Lines in 2010. Subsequently, these lines have been extended and new lines are under construction in Phase II of the project, including the Delhi Airport Metro Express whose opening has been postponed until December 2010 due to safety concerns.[11] [edit] History [edit] Background The concept of a mass rapid transit for Delhi first emerged from a traffic and travel characteristics study carried out in the city in 1969.[12] Over the next several years, many official committees by a variety of government departments were commissioned to examine issues related to technology, route alignment and governmental jurisdiction.[13] In 1984, the Delhi Development Authority and the Urban Arts Commission came up with a proposal for developing a multi-modal transport system, which would consist of constructing three underground mass rapid transit corridors as well augmenting the city's existing suburban railway and road transport networks.[14] While extensive technical studies and search for financing the project were in progress, the city expanded significantly resulting in a twofold rise in population and a fivefold rise in the number of vehicles between 1981 and 1998.[14] Consequently, traffic congestion and pollution soared, as an increasing number of commuters took to private vehicles with the existing bus system unable to bear the load.[12] An attempt at privatising the bus transport system in 1992 merely compounded the problem, with inexperienced operators plying poorly maintained, noisy and polluting buses on lengthy routes, resulting in long waiting times, unreliable service, extreme overcrowding, unqualified drivers, speeding and reckless driving.[15] To rectify the situation, the Government of India and the Government of Delhi jointly set up a company called the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on March 5, 1995 with E. Sreedharan as the managing director.[16] [edit] Construction Physical construction work on the Delhi Metro started on October 1, 1998.[17] After the previous problems experienced by the Calcutta Metro, which was badly delayed and 12 times over budget due to "political meddling, technical problems and bureaucratic delays", the DMRC was given full powers to hire people, decide on tenders and control funds.[18] As a result, construction proceeded smoothly, except from one major disagreement in 2000, where the Ministry of Railways forced the system to use broad gauge despite the DMRC's preference for standard gauge.[19] The first line of the Delhi Metro was inaugurated by Atal Behari Vajpayee, the then Prime Minister of India on December 24, 2002[5] and thus it became the second underground rapid transit system in India, after the Kolkata Metro. The first phase of the project was completed in 2006[20] on budget and almost three years ahead of schedule, an achievement described by BusinessWeek as "nothing short of a miracle".[21] [edit] Network Main article: List of Delhi metro stations The Delhi Metro is being built in phases. Phase I completed 65.11 km (40.46 mi) of route length, of which 13.01 km (8.08 mi) is underground and 52.10 km (32.37 mi) surface or elevated. The inauguration of the Indraprastha–Barakhamba Road corridor of the Blue Line marked the completion of Phase I on October 27, 2006.[20] Phase II of the network comprises 128 km (80 mi) of route length and 79 stations, and is presently under construction, with the first section opened in June 2008 and a target completion date of 2010.[22] Phases III (112 km) and IV (108.5 km) are planned to be completed by 2015 and 2021 respectively, with the network spanning 413 km (257 mi) by then.[23] [edit] Current routes As of October 3, 2010, the whole of Phase-I and parts of Phase-II are complete, with the network comprising five lines with 130 metro stations and a total length of 156 km (97 mi).[1][2][24] Lengt First Last Rollin Stations[ h Lie operatio Extensi Terminals g Network Map 24] (km)[2 nal on stock 4] Decembe 23 June 4, Dilshad Rithal Red r 24, 21 25.1 trains[2 2008 Garden a Line 2002 5] Decembe Septemb HUD 45 Yello Jahangirp r 20, er 3, 34 45 A City trains[4 w uri ] 2004 2010 Centre Line Dwark Decembe Noida October a r 31, 44 50 City 59 30, 2010 Sector [8 Blue 2005 Centre trains 21 Line ] January Yamuna Anand — 6 6.25 8, 2010 Bank Vihar 13 April 3, Mund [2 Green — 14 15.1 Inderlok trains 2010 ka Line 6] Central 29 October Sarita Viole — 13 15 Secretaria trains[2 3, 2010 Vihar 7] t Line t [edit] Red Line Main article: Red Line (Delhi Metro) The Red Line was the first line of the Metro to be opened and connects Rithala in the west to Dilshad Garden in the east, covering a distance of 25.09 kilometres (15.59 mi).[25] It is partly elevated and partly at grade, and crosses the Yamuna River between Kashmere Gate and Shastri Park stations.[28] The inauguration of the first stretch between Shahdara and Tis Hazari on December 24, 2002, caused the ticketing system to collapse due to the line being crowded to four times its capacity by citizens eager to have a ride.[29][30] Subsequent sections were inaugurated from Tis Hazari – Trinagar (later renamed Inderlok) on October 4, 2003,[31] Inderlok – Rithala on March 31, 2004, and Shahdara – Dilshad Garden on June 4, 2008.[32] [edit] Yellow Line Main article: Yellow Line (Delhi Metro) The Yellow Line was the second line of the Metro and was the first underground line to be opened.[33] It runs for 44.36 kilometres (27.56 mi) from north to south and connects Jahangirpuri with HUDA City Centre. The northern and southern parts of the line are elevated, while the central section through some of the most congested parts of Delhi is underground. The first section between Vishwa Vidyalaya and Kashmere Gate opened on December 20, 2004, and the subsequent sections of Kashmere Gate – Central Secretariat opened on July 3, 2005, and Vishwa Vidyalaya – Jahangirpuri on February 4, 2009.[32] This line also possesses the country's deepest Metro station at Chawri Bazaar, situated 30 metres (98 ft) below ground level.[34][35] On 21 June 2010, an additional stretch from Qutub Minar to HUDA City Centre in Gurgaon was opened, initially operating separately from the main line.