Delhi metro enters Gurgaon for trial runs

New Delhi, Jan 29(ANI): The Delhi Metro inched ahead in integrating the single mass public rapid transport system in the National Capital Region (NCR) on Friday.

This was made possible on the outskirts of the national capital with the commencement of the trial runs of the metro train on an elevated track between Qutab Minar and HUDA City in the neighbouring Gurgaon in Haryana.

Union Urban Development Minister S. Jaipal Reddy and Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda flagged off the first trial train from HUDA City Centre Metro Station.

A large number of dignitaries were present to witness the memorable occasion.

Managing Director of Delhi Metro E. Sreedhanran depicted the networking of the metro railway and also explained the reasons that caused certain delay in the execution of the project at an earlier date, which he attributed to acquisition of land at certain places.

"Delhi Metro takes about 24 months to construct an elevated station and 36 months to construct an underground station; because the land was coming in late, we decided to prefabricate the Chhatarpur Station," Sreedharan said.

"We are hopeful that this section of the line will be ready by March end and we are hoping that trials should commence immediately after that. The section from Qutub Minar to HUDA City Centre will open by early May," he added.

With the commencement of the test runs, Gurgaon has now become the second NCR city after NOIDA, where the Delhi Metro has extended its services.

The trail train on the Qutab Minar-Gurgaon stretch started from HUDA City Centre and reached Guru Dronacharya Metro station after covering the distance of approximately seven kilometres, also located in Haryana towards Delhi border.

Addressing on media on the occasion, Reddy said: "This will be remembered as one of the milestones in the march of Gurgaon as it has been mentioned by everybody including the Chief ministers. Gurgaon is already a celebrity city not only at the national level but also at the global level. Today, with the entry of the Metro in Gurgaon, Gurgaon will become a seamless part of Delhi itself."

The three stations between these two in the 7.3-km line are Sikandarpur, MG Road and IFFCO Chowk. The stoppage of HUDA City Centre would be of attraction for the crowd as it also boasts of a shopping mall on its premises.

The fully elevated line (from HUDA City Centre Metro Station to Guru Dronacharya Metro Station) passes through residential and institutional areas of Gurgaon.

The depot for the section is located at Sultanpur, while the electricity sub-station is at HUDA City Centre.

The track runs almost parallel and above the busy Mehrauli-Gurgaon (MG) Road and terminates at the HUDA City Centre located in Sector 29 off the Sohna Road.

The Metro is expected to provide a much relief to the Gurgaon commuters from the traffic congestion, as it will cover the distance in approximately 12 minutes.

Beyond the Guru Dronacharya Metro Station, the elevated track will run upto the Qutab Minar (yet to be completed) and from there onwards it will be underground upto Krishi Bhavan, referred as Central Secretariat in the Delhi Metro's network. (ANI)