Delhi Metro is a metro system serving Delhi (including New Delhi and Old Delhi) and its

satellite cities of Gurgaon, Noida,Faridabad and Ghaziabad in the National Capital Region of
India.[8] Delhi Metro is the world's thirteenth largest metro system in terms of length and a
member of Nova Group of Metros.[9][10] Delhi Metro is India's third urban mass rapid
transport system, after the Kolkata Metro and Chennai MRTS. It is India's first modern rapid
transit system too. As of December 2014, the network consists of five colour-coded lines (Red,
Blue, Green, Yellow, Violet), plus a sixth Airport Express line, with a total length of 193
kilometres (120 mi),[1] serving 140 stations (with 6 more Airport Express stations),[1]of which
38 are underground, five are at-grade, and the rest are elevated.[11] All stations have
escalators, elevators, and tactile tiles to guide the visually impaired from station entrances to
trains. It has a combination of elevated, at-grade, and underground lines, and uses both broad
gauge and standard gauge rolling stock. Four types of rolling stock are used:Mitsubishi Rotem
broad gauge, Bombardier Movia, Mitsubishi Rotem standard gauge, and CAF Beasain standard
gauge.
Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Limited (DMRC), a state-owned company with equal equity
participation from Government of India and Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi
built and operates the Delhi Metro. However, the organisation is under administrative control
of Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India. Besides construction and operation
of Delhi Metro, DMRC is also involved in the planning and implementation of metro rail,
monorail and high-speed rail projects in India and providing consultancy services to other
metro projects in the country as well as abroad.
As of November 2014, DMRC operates around 3000 trips daily between 05:30 till 00:00
running with an interval of between 34 minutes between trains at peak frequency. [12]
[13] The trains are usually of four and six coaches, but due to increase in the number of
passengers, eight-coach trains are added on the Yellow Line (Jahangirpuri to HUDA city centre)
and Blue line (Dwarka Sector-21 to Noida City Centre/Vaishali).[14] Yellow line being the first
one with eight coach trains.[6][7][13][15]The power output is supplied by 25-kilovolt, 50hertz alternating current through overhead catenary. The metro has an average daily
ridership of 2.4 million commuters, and, as of August 2010, had already carried over 1.25
billion commuters since its inception.[16] The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has been certified
by the United Nations as the first metro rail and rail-based system in the world to get "carbon
credits for reducing greenhouse gas emissions" and helping in reducing pollution levels in the
city by 630,000 tonnes every year.[17]
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) registered on 3 May 1995 under The Companies Act, 1956.
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, and the Delhi Airport Metro Express in 2011.
The recently opened Rapid MetroRail Gurgaon, whilst linked to it by the Yellow Line is a
separate metro system (with a different owner/operator than the Delhi Metro), although
tickets from the Delhi Metro can be used in its network.

Contents
[hide]

1 History
1.1 Background
1.2 Construction
1.3 Construction accidents
2 Network
2.1 Current routes
2.1.1 Red Line
2.1.2 Yellow Line
2.1.3 Blue Line
2.1.4 Green Line
2.1.5 Violet Line
2.1.6 Airport Express
2.2 Planned extensions
2.2.1 Phase III
2.2.2 Phase IV
3 Finances
3.1 Summary Financials
3.2 Funding and Capitalization

 4 Operations
4.1 Security
4.2 Ticketing & Recharge
4.3 Problems
4.4 Ridership
5 Rolling stock
5.1 Broad gauge
5.2 Standard gauge
5.3 Airport Express
6 Signalling and telecommunication
7 Environment and aesthetics
8 See also
9 Notes
10 References
11 Further reading
12 External links

History[edit]
Background[edit]
The concept of a mass rapid transit for New Delhi first emerged from a traffic and travel
characteristics study which was carried out in the city in 1969. [18] 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.

[19] 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.[20]
While extensive technical studies and the raising of finance for 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.[20] 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.[18] 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.
[21] 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 3 May 1995, with E.
Sreedharan as the managing director.[22]
Dr. E. Sreedharan handed over the charge as MD, DMRC to Shri Mangu Singh on 31 December
2011.

Construction[edit]
Physical construction work on the Delhi Metro started on 1 October 1998. [23] After the
previous problems experienced by the Kolkata Metro, which was badly delayed and 12 times
over budget due to "political meddling, technical problems and bureaucratic delays", DMRC is
a special purpose organization vested with great autonomy and powers to execute this
gigantic project involving many technical complexities, under a difficult urban environment
and within a very limited time frame. DMRC was given full powers to hire people, decide on
tenders and control funds.[24] The DMRC then consulted the Hong Kong MTRC on rapid transit
operation and construction techniques.[25] As a result, construction proceeded smoothly,
except for 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.[26]
The first line of the Delhi Metro was inaugurated by Atal Behari Vajpayee, the then Prime
Minister of India, on 24 December 2002,[27] 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,[28] on budget and almost three years ahead of schedule, an
achievement described by Business Week as "nothing short of a miracle".[29]

Construction accidents[edit]
On 19 October 2008, a girder launcher and a part of the overhead Blue Line extension under
construction in Laxmi Nagar, East Delhi collapsed and fell on passing vehicles underneath.
Workers were using a crane to lift a 400-tonne concrete span of the bridge when the launcher
collapsed along with a 34-metre (112 ft) long span of the bridge on top of a Blueline bus
killing the driver and a labourer.[30]
On 12 July 2009, a section of bridge collapsed while it was being erected at Zamrudpur, near
East of Kailash, on the Central Secretariat Badarpur corridor. Six people died and 15 were
injured.[31] The following day, on 13 July 2009, a crane that was removing the debris
collapsed, and with a bowling pin effect collapsed two other nearby cranes, injuring six. [32] On
22 July 2009, worker at Ashok Park Metro station was killed when a steel beam fell on him.
[33] Over a hundred people, including 93 workers, have died since work on the metro began in
1998.[34]

Network[edit]

Network map

Main article: List of Delhi metro stations

The Delhi Metro is being built in phases. Phase I completed 58 stations and 65.0 km (40.4 mi)
of route length,[35] of which 13.0 km (8.1 mi) is underground and 52.1 km (32.4 mi) surface or
elevated.[citation needed] The inauguration of the DwarkaBarakhamba Roadcorridor of the Blue
Line marked the completion of Phase I on October 2006. [28] Phase II of the network comprises
124.6 km (77.4 mi) of route length and 85 stations,[35] and is fully completed, with the first
section opened in June 2008 and the last line opened in August 2011. [36] Phase III (103 km, 69
stations)[5] and Phase IV (113.2 km)[5] are planned to be completed by 2016[5] and
2021[citation needed]respectively, with the network spanning 413 km (257 mi) by then.[citation
needed]

Current routes[edit]
As of October 2014, with the completion of Phase I, Phase II and the beginning of operations
on Phase III, the Delhi Metro network comprises six lines (plus the Airport Express line),
serving 140 metro stations[37] (with 6 more stations on the Airport Express line, for a total of
146), and operating on a total route length of 193 kilometres (120 mi).[1]

First
Last
Stations[ Length
Terminals
operational Extension 37][38] (km)[38]
24
Red
4 June
Dilshad
December
21
25.09
Rithala
2008
Garden
Line
2002
20
3
HUDA
Yellow
December September
34
44.65 Jahangirpuri City
Line
2004
2010
Centre
31
30
Noida City Dwarka
December October
44
49.93
Centre
Sector 21
Blue
2005
2010
Line
7 January
14 July
Yamuna
7
8.74
Vaishali
2010
2011
Bank

Line

3 April 2010

Green
Line
27 August

2011
Violet 3 October 26 June
2010
2014
Line

14
2
18

Rolling
Gauge Power
stock
26
25 kV
trains[39 1676 mm OHE
]
60
25 kV
trains[12 1676 mm OHE
]

25 kV
1676 mm
70
OHE
trains[13
]
25 kV
1676 mm
OHE
25 kV
15.14 Inderlok
Mundka 15
1435 mm
OHE
trains[40
Ashok Park Kirti
25 kV
]
3.32
1435 mm
Main
Nagar
OHE
23.24 Mandi
Badarpur 30
1435 mm 25 kV
House
trains[41
OHE

Airport
Express 23 February
2011
(Orange
Line)
TOTAL

6
146

22.70 New Delhi

Dwarka
25 kV
8 trains 1435 mm
Sector 21
OHE

192.81

Red Line[edit]

Red Line

Main article: Red Line

The Red Line was 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).[39] It is
partly elevated and partly at grade, and crosses the Yamuna River between Kashmere
Gate andShastri Park stations.[42] The inauguration of the first stretch
between Shahdara and Tis Hazari on 24 December 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.[43][44] Subsequent sections were inaugurated from Tis Hazari Trinagar (later
renamed Inderlok) on 4 October 2003,[45] Inderlok Rithala on 31 March 2004, and
Shahdara Dilshad Garden on 4 June 2008.[46] The red line has two interchange stations, the
first being Kashmere Gate with the yellow line and the second Inderlok with the green
line.Starting from 24 November 2013 six coach trains will be inducted in a phased manner in
red line.[47]

Yellow Line

Yellow Line[edit]

Inside a Delhi Metro on the yellow line

Main article: Yellow Line

The Yellow Line was the second line of the Metro and was the first underground line to be
opened.[48] It runs for 44.36 kilometres (27.56 mi) from north to south and
connects Jahangirpuri with HUDA City Centre in Gurgaon. 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 betweenVishwa Vidyalaya and Kashmere Gate opened
on 20 December 2004, and the subsequent sections of Kashmere Gate Central
Secretariat opened on 3 July 2005, and Vishwa Vidyalaya Jahangirpuri on 4 February 2009.
[46] This line also possesses the country'sdeepest Metro station (the second deepest metro
station in the world)[49] at Chawri Bazaar, situated 30 metres (98 ft) below ground level.[50]
[51] On 21 June 2010, an additional stretch from Qutub Minar to HUDA City Centre was
opened, initially operating separately from the main line. However, Chhatarpur station on this
line opened on 26 August 2010. Due to delay in acquiring the land for constructing the
station, it was constructed using pre-fabricated structures in a record time of nine months and
is the only station in the Delhi metro network to be made completely of steel. [52][53] The
connecting link between Central Secretariat and Qutub Minar opened on 3 September 2010.
[54] Interchanges are available with the Red Line and Kashmere Gate ISBT at Kashmere Gate
station, Blue Line at Rajiv Chowk Station, Violet Line at Central Secretariat, Rapid MetroRail
Gurgaon at Sikandarpur and with the Indian Railways network at Chandni chowk Delhi
Junction Railway station and New Delhi New Delhi railway stations.[55][56] Yellow line is the
first line of Delhi Metro which has phased out all four coach trains with six and eight coach
configuration. The Metro Museum at Patel Chowk Metro station is a collection of display
panels, historical photographs and exhibits, tracing the genesis of the Delhi Metro. The
museum was opened on January 1, 2009.[49]
Blue Line[edit]

Blue Line

Main article: Blue Line

The Blue Line was the third line of the Metro to be opened, and the first to connect areas
outside Delhi.[57] Mainly elevated and partly underground,[58] it connects Dwarka Sub City in
the west with the satellite city of Noida in the east, covering a distance of 47.4 kilometres
(29.5 mi).[57] The first section of this line between Dwarka and Barakhamba Road was

inaugurated on 31 December 2005, and subsequent sections opened between

Dwarka Dwarka Sector 9 on 1 April 2006, Barakhamba Road Indraprastha on 11 November
2006, Indraprastha Yamuna Bank on 10 May 2009, Yamuna Bank Noida City Centre on 12
November 2009, and Dwarka Sector 9 Dwarka Sector 21 on 30 October 2010.[46] This line
crosses the Yamuna River between Indraprastha and Yamuna Bank stations,[42] and has
India's second extradosed bridge across the Northern Railways mainlines near Pragati Maidan.
[59] A branch of the Blue line, inaugurated on 8 January 2010, takes off from Yamuna Bank
station and runs for 6.25 kilometres (3.88 mi) up to Anand Vihar in east Delhi.[60] It was
further extended up to Vaishali which was opened to public on 14 July 2011.[61][62] A small
stretch of 2.76 kilometres (1.71 mi) from Dwarka Sector 9 to Dwarka Sector 21 was
inaugurated on 30 October 2010.[63][64] Interchanges are available with the Yellow Line
at Rajiv Chowk station,[58] Green line at Kirti Nagar, Violet line at Mandi House and with the
Indian Railways network at the Anand Vihar Railway Terminal and Anand Vihar ISBT.[65]
Green Line[edit]
Main article: Green Line
Opened in 2010, the Green Line was the first standard-gauge corridor of the Delhi Metro.
[40] The fully elevated line connects Mundka with Inderlok, running for 15.1 kilometres
(9.4 mi) mostly along Rohtak Road with a branch line connecting the line's Ashok Park Main
station with Kirti Nagar station on the Blue Line. The line consists of 17 stations including an
interchange station covering a total length of 18.46 km. The line was opened in two stages,
with the 15.1 km Inderlok - Mundka section opening on 3 April 2010, and the 3.5 km Kirti
Nagar - Ashok Park Main branch line on 27 August 2011. [66] An interchange with the Red line
is available at Inderlok station via an integrated concourse.[67] This line also has the country's
first standard-gauge maintenance depot at Mundka.[68]
Violet Line[edit]

Violet Line

Main article: Violet Line

The Violet Line is the most recent line of the Metro to be opened, and the second standardgauge corridor after the Green Line. The 23.2 km (14.4 mi) long line connects Badarpur to
Mandi House, with 9 km (5.6 mi) being overhead and the rest underground.[41] The first
section between Central Secretariat and Sarita Vihar was inaugurated on 3 October 2010,that
just hours before the inaugural ceremony of the 2010 Commonwealth Games, and connects
the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, which was the venue for the opening and closing ceremonies
of the event.[69] Completed in just 41 months, it includes a 100 m (330 ft) long bridge over
the Indian Railways mainlines and a 167.5 m (550 ft) long cable-stayed bridge across an
operational road flyover, and connects several hospitals, tourist attractions, and a major
industrial estate along its route.[41] Services are provided at intervals of 5 min.[69] An
interchange with the Yellow Line is available at Central Secretariat through an integrated
concourse.[41] On 14 January 2011, the remaining portion from Sarita Vihar to Badarpur was
opened for commercial service, adding three new stations to the network and marking the
completion of the line.[70] The most recent section, between Mandi House and Central

Secretariat, was opened on 26 June 2014.

Airport Express[edit]

The interior of a Delhi Metro Airport Express train

Main article: Delhi Airport Metro Express

The Airport Express line runs for 22.7 km (14.1 mi) from New Delhi Railway Station to Dwarka
Sector 21, linking the Indira Gandhi International Airport. The line was operated by Delhi
Airport Metro Express Pvt. Limited (DAMEL), a subsidiary of Reliance Infrastructure,
the concessionaire of the line till 30 June 2013 and is now being operated by DMRC. [71] The
line was constructed at a cost of 57 billion(US$890 million), of which Reliance Infrastructure
invested 28.85 billion (US$450 million) and will pay fees on a revenue-share model. [72]The
line has six stations (Dhaula Kuan and Delhi Aerocity became operational on 15 August 2011),
with some featuring check-in facilities, parking, and eateries.[73] Rolling stock consists of sixcoach trains operating at intervals of ten minutes and having a maximum speed of 135 km/h
(84 mph).[73] Originally scheduled to open before the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the line
failed to obtain the mandatory safety clearance, and was opened on 24 February 2011, after a
delay of around 5 months. After 16 months of commencement of operations, the line was shut
down for repairs of the viaducts on 8 July 2012. [74][75] The line reopened on 22 January 2013.
[76] On 27 June 2013 Reliance Infrastructure Ltd intimated DMRC that they are unable to
operate the line beyond 30 June 2013. Following this DMRC took over operations of Airport
Express line from 1 July 2013 with an Operations and Maintenance team of 100 officials to
handle the line.[77] In Jan 2015, DMRC reported that Airport Metro has recorded about 30 per
cent rise in its ridership following the fare reduction of up to 40 per cent in July last year [78]

Planned extensions[edit]

Delhi Metro map with Phase I, phase II & proposed phase III routes

Delhi Metro was planned to be built in phases spread over around 20 years as with each
phase having a target of five years and end of one phase marking the beginning of another.
Phase I (65 km) and Phase II (125 km) were completed in 2006 and 2011, respectively, and

Phase III and Phase IV are scheduled for completion in 2016 and 2021, respectively. Work on
Phase III started in 2011 while planning for Phase IV has begun. Ex-chief of DMRC hinted that
by the time Phase IV is completed, the city will need Phase V to cope with rising population
and transport needs.[79]
Phase III[edit]
Out of 2 new lines and 11 route extensions proposed for Phase III, cabinet approvals have
been obtained for 2 new lines and 10 route extensions totaling 167.27 km, with an estimated
cost of 350 billion (US$5.5 billion).[80] Construction has already begun on many of these. In
April 2014 the Delhi governor gave approval for two further extensions. [81] All the approved
lines are:

Line

Stations

Yellow Line extension

Violet Line extension

4.48

9.36

11
4
Blue Line extension
Green Line extension

Length
(km)

Terminals
Jahangirpuri

Central
Secretariat
13.875 Badarpur
5.5
Dwarka
Noida City
6
Centre

No. of
interchanges
planned

Badli

Kashmere Gate

Ballabgarh
Najafgarh

0
1

Noida Sector 62

11.182 Mundka

Bahadurgarh

Pink Line also called Inner

Ring Road Line (Line 7)[82]

38

58.59

Mukundpur

Shiv Vihar

11

Magenta Line also called

Outer Ring Road Line (Line 8)

26

37.25

Janakpuri
West

Botanical Garden

Red Line extension

9.6

Airport Express extension

11.63

Total

104

Dilshad
New Bus Stand,
Garden
Ghaziabad
Dwarka Sector
IFFCO Chowk
21

167.277

0
1
18

Other than these approved lines, there are several other proposed lines which are awaiting
approval for inclusion in Phase III.[83] These line extensions are:

Line
Red
Line

Stations
6

Length
(km)
12

Terminals

No. of interchanges
planned

Rithala Bawana

Phase III will have 28 underground stations covering 41 km.[84] More than 20 tunnel boring
machines are expected to be simultaneously used during construction of Phase III. [85]Delhi
Metro is expecting a ridership of 4 million after completion of Phase III. DMRC has decided to
use communication based train control (CBTC) for signaling which will allow trains to run at a
short headway of 90 seconds.[86] Keeping this in mind and other constraints, DMRC changed
its decision to build 9 car long stations for new lines and instead opting for shorter stations
which can accommodate 6 car trains.
For the first time Delhi Metro will construct ring lines in Phase III. Till Phase II, Delhi Metro

focused on expanding the reach of metro and thus built long radial lines. However, in Phase
III, Delhi Metro is aiming to interconnect existing lines by ring lines to improve connectivity.
This will not only help in reducing distances but will also relieve radial lines of some
congestion.
Phase IV[edit]
Phase IV has a 2021 deadline, and tentatively includes further extensions to Sonia Vihar,
Burari, Mukundpur, Reola Khanpur, Palam, Najafgarh, Narela, Ghazipur, Noida sector 62,
extensions of Violet line, Green line, Line 8, having a total length of over 100 km.[35][87]
[88] There might be some changes in plan before actual construction starts on these lines.

Apart from these lines in Phases I to IV, plans have been mooted to construct a new line from
Noida Sector 62 to Greater Noida which will intersect Indraprastha Noida Sector 32 line.
[89] The Ghaziabad Development Authority is planning to extend Delhi Metro lines deeper
into Ghaziabad through extension of the Blue Line from Vaishali to Mehrauli viaIndirapuram.
The independently operated Gurgaon Metro, opened in November 2013, will also interchange
with the Delhi Metro at Sikandarpur station on Yellow line.[90] For the year 2012-13, Noida
development Authority has allocated Rs 5 billion for Metro extension, with City Center Metro
line being extended till the crossing of Sector 71 and 72.[91]

Finances[edit]
Summary Financials[edit]
The table below is based on the 2013-14 Annual Report.[92]
EBITDA stands for "Earnings before Interest Taxes Depreciation & Amortization"
EBT stands for "Earnings Before Tax"
Of note, Delhi Metro has been operating with a loss on an EBT basis for the past few years.
EBITDA margin declined from 73% in Fiscal 2007 to 33% in Fiscal 2014. That said, Debt to
Equity improved from 1.43 in FY07 to 1.16 in FY14.

FY
ending
March
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014

Revenue
5.43
billion (US$85 million)
5.04
billion (US$79 million)
7.24
billion (US$114 million)
7.38
billion (US$116 million)
16.08
billion (US$252 million)
22.48
billion (US$353 million)
26.87
billion (US$422 million)
31.98
billion (US$502 million)

EBITDA *
3.99
billion (US$63 million)
3.00
billion (US$47 million)
4.73
billion (US$74 million)
3.56
billion (US$56 million)
7.50
billion (US$118 million)
9.33
billion (US$146 million)
10.28
billion (US$161 million)
10.62
billion (US$167 million)

EBT *
240
million (US$4 million)
261
million (US$4 million)
904
million (US$14 million)
- 902
million (US$14 million)
- 127
million (US$2 million)
- 681
million (US$11 million)
- 79
million (US$1 million)
- 607
million (US$10 million)

Funding and Capitalization[edit]

DMRC is owned equally by the Delhi government and the Government of India.
As of March 2014, total debt stood at 219 billion (US$3.4 billion), while equity capital was
188 billion (US$3.0 billion).
Cost of the debt is 0% for Govt of India and Delhi government loans, and between 0.01% and

2.3% for Japan International Cooperation Agency loans. Of the equity capital,
billion (US$2.4 billion) is paid-up capital and rest is rese

152