HERITAGE LINE MISSES YET ANOTHER DEADLINE
NEW DELHI: Delhi Metro commuters will have to wait a little longer as Metro officials are still clueless about the operation of Heritage Metro line. The line, that missed several deadlines, has exceeded the latest deadline also. The Heritage line was expected to be operational before October 2016 after it crossed its first deadline of December 2015.
Sources at the DMRC said that Heritage Line was waiting for Metro Railway's Safety Commissioner's inspection to get operational as all the major work has been completed.
The agency had announced earlier that Ito-kashmiri gate line (Heritage Line) would be operational by April-end or May first week this year. But still now, the corridor is waiting to greet Metro passengers.
However, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) official said it has submitted the request for a safety audit and the requisite certifications. “Delhi Metro has submitted the papers pertaining to the 5.17km long section from ITO to Kashmere gate to the Commissioner for Metro Railway Safety for scrutiny,” said the Delhi Metro spokesman. He added that DMRC has also submitted papers to ISA (Independent Safety Assessor) for safety certification of signalling systems. “The documents will be scrutinised by CMRS office and thereafter, CMRS inspection shall be planned. The line will be opened for public after safety certification of signalling system by ISA,” added spokesperson.
On querying, when the Heritage Line is expected to be operational, the DMRC official said it would be after the certifications. Typically, the certification comes a few days after the safety audit, as has been seen in the past. DMRC officials however, said the date of the safety audit hasn't been discussed yet.
Nonetheless, Heritage Metro line has been in the process of commission for more than a year now. The line has been delayed by more than a year due to various issues, including the dispute over the location of the station near Jama Masjid, where a heritage monument was unearthed by the locals just months after work started on the station. The existing Jama Masjid station was relocated after the incident.
The entire underground section comprises four stations – Delhi Gate, Jama Masjid, Lal Quila and Kashmere Gate. The Kashmere Gate station will become the first ever interchange facility of Delhi Metro system to provide interconnectivity between three corridors of the network (Violet Line with Red and Yellow Lines). Also, it will provide an opportunity to explore Walled City. The Delhi Gate station, in particular will take people closer to Ambedkar and Feroz Shah Kotla stadiums, Daryaganj, LNJP Hospital and GB Pant Hospitals.
Delhi Gate will be the first station which will have five entries and exits that will open up to Daryaganj, LNJP Hospital, Ambedkar and Ferozeshah Kotla stadiums and Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg.
After commissioning of this section, residents of Faridabad and various south Delhi areas such as Govindpuri, Kalkaji, Nehru Place, East of Kailash etc will directly reach Old Delhi.
Commuters of the Yellow Line between Central Secretariat and Kashmere Gate will have an alternate way of using Violet Line for reaching the same destinations.
The Heritage Line will connect ITO in central Delhi to Kashmere Gate in the North. The trials on the 5.17 km ITO– Kashmere Gate section of Violet Line started on August 10, 2016. The stretch is an extension of currently operational Escorts Mujesar (Faridabad)– ITO corridor.