New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate Delhi-NCR’s first solar-equipped Badarpur-Faridabad Metro corridor on Sunday, which is hoped to provide relief to 1.95 lakh passengers per day by December.
It will be the first corridor in which all the stations and depot have been equipped with solar power plants and would ensure commuting to the Delhi suburb takes lesser than usual time.
The 13.87 km Delhi (Badarpur)-Faridabad (Escorts Mujesar) Metro corridor is equipped with solar power generation facilities in all stations and depots.
The new facility will also ease out travelling for commuters who have to presently rely on shared auto rickshaws and state buses for their further journey to Faridabad from Badarpur Metro Station.
“I stay in Faridabad Sector 86. Everyday it takes about 30 minutes to reach the Badarpur metro station by an autorickshaw from my house. The distance is about 11 km. The Metro will help reduce the travel time significantly,” said Suresh Kumar, who works in a media organisation.
The new corridor will have Delhi Metro’s first ever green’ electrical Receiving Sub Station (RSS) with a host of eco-friendly features and constructed at Faridabad to cater to the energy requirements of the upcoming completely elevated corridor.
The Rs.2,900-crore project, an extension of the currently operational violet line between ITO and Badarpur – will have nine stations — Sarai, NHPC Chowk, Mewala Maharajpur, Sector 28, Badkal Mor, Old Faridabad, Neelam Chowk Ajronda, Bata Chowk and Escorts Mujesar.
A media preview and train ride was organised by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on the Faridabad corridor on Friday.
Talking to reporters, Anuj Dayal, executive director (corporate communications), Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), said: “Two more stations NCB Colony and Ballabhgarh will also be added to this line by 2017, which will increase the length of the line by 3.2 km.”
“The corridor will provide relief to 1.95 lakh passengers per day by December. This is the first corridor in which all the stations and depot have been installed with solar power plants,” he said.
“This is the first solar line in Delhi. These solar plants will partially fulfill the energy requirements of the corridor. The minimum rate of tickets will start from Rs.8,” Dayal added.
The depot for this section has been constructed near Sector 20A in Faridabad and will be called Ajronda Depot.
Stating that the power generated would be used for the lighting and other auxiliary requirements of the station and depot buildings, Dayal said: “The power Receiving Sub Station (RSS) of the Faridabad corridor has already been developed as a green building with a 50 KWp solar plant, rain water harvesting and constructed wet land type of sewage treatment plant facilities.”
From ITO, the section will expand up to Kashmere Gate on the other side.
Once fully operational, Line-6 will run from Kashmere Gate to Ballabhgarh along 46.60 km and 34 stations. Of these, five – Kashmere Gate, Mandi House, Central Secretariat, Lajpat Nagar and Kalkaji Mandir – will be interchange stations.