Title - Metro to implement Mono Rail project

To ensure proper and speedy implementation of the Mono Rail project, the Delhi Government has decided to get the complete job of preparation of the Detailed Project Reports, floating of tenders, selection of contractors and construction done by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation.The Delhi Government on Wednesday also announced that it was now contemplating extending this 11-km project across the Yamuna to Delhi University, Kashmere Gate and Chandni Chowk. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, which had earlier been asked to prepare the DPR, has now been told to speed up the work within three months so that tenders for the project could be invited.Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, who went through a presentation on the project, said her government was now considering extension of the approved Mono Rail project to other places like Delhi University, Kashmere Gate and Chandni Chowk.She said the early commissioning of the Mono Rail project would supplement the existing inter-city transport modes including the Delhi Metro.The Chief Minister made a strong case for expanding the Mono Rail network by stating that laying of its lines was cheaper in comparison to the Delhi Metro lines.Moreover, she said, the Mono Rail, which travels on narrower viaducts, would be able to pass through some of the most congested localities of the city, in which even buses find it difficult to operate.

Delhi Transport Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely confirmed to The Hindu that the Government has already decided to get all the works related to the Mono Rail project implemented through the DMRC. “This decision was taken some time back. We want the Mono Rail project to be implemented with the kind of finesse that was seen in the Delhi Metro project.’’

A DMRC source said Mono Rail was a tested system in use in several places and with its own set of advantages. “We are in the picture and would be closely associated with the implementation of the Mono Rail project,’’ he said.

As per the presentation, the straddle type Mono Rail will be able to negotiate sharp curves and would provide a non-polluting, fast, convenient and modern inter-city transport mode.

It was also stated that Mono Rail is “successfully plying’’ in a number of countries and would soon be commissioned in Mumbai as well over a 20 km route.

It was also stated that each train would have four cars with a carrying capacity of 140 persons each. Initially, the cars will be manufactured in Malaysia but later manufacturing would be taken up within the country.

It was also stated in the presentation that DMRC will look after the entire construction and commissioning work as it possess expertise in this field. The Corporation has been told to expedite the preparation of the DPR for the 11 km line from Trilokpuri to Shastri Park which would have a total of 12 stations at Shastri Park, Kailash Nagar, Gandhi Nagar, Taj Enclave, Geeta Colony, Guru Angad Nagar, Scope Tower, Ganesh Nagar, Mother Dairy, Patparganj, Kotla and Trilokpuri.

The already agreed route will lead to integration with three Metro lines – Shastri Park Metro Station on Dilshad Garden to Rithala Line; Nirman Vihar Metro Station on Anand Vihar to Dwarka line; and Trilokpuri Metro Station on the under-construction Mukundpur to Yamuna Vihar line.