Title - CAPITAL WOES: Metro freezes in its tracks

New Delhi : The office-goers at the Delhi Metro stations were taken aback when they came to know that the train services would not be available in the morning. The Delhi Metro train services that usually start at 6 am could not be operational today because of failure of the northern grid in the wee hours today. It is only at 7 am, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) arranged power supply from Bhutan to resume the services, said a spokesperson for the DMRC.“Owing to the breakdown of power supply from the northern grid, auxiliary and traction power supply of all Metro lines/depots was not available from 2:35 am to 7 am. As a result, the Metro trains could not be taken out from depots at 6 am, as per the normal schedule,” he said.Around 7 am, when power supply was resumed from the northern grid, the trains were rolled out from respective depots for the services in a phased manner.At 9 am, regular services were made available on all the Metro lines.A team of senior officials from the Delhi Metro’s Electrical wing swung into action at 2.30 am to ensure that power supply was resumed for the trains at the earliest. Separate teams were deployed for DMRC’s Control Centres at Shastri Park and Metro Bhawan to supervise the overall situation and ensure the earliest restoration of power supply.“We did regular announcements regarding non-availability of Metro services. Though, all stations remained closed from 6 am to 7 am, adequate information was displayed outside the stations regarding non-availability of services,” said the spokesperson.

“I reached the Green Park Metro station at 6.30 in the morning as I had to board Shatabdi from New Delhi Railway Station. But no services were available,” said a student.