Prime Minister Narednra Modi on Monday kickstarted India’s first driverless metro train’s operations on the Magenta Line of Delhi Metro. Addressing a virtual conference, the PM also launched National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) in the same ceremony.
The Prime Minister said that it was possible because “we took urbanisation as an opportunity, not a challenge.”
“Today’s ceremony is an attempt to turn urban development, urban ready and future ready,” the prime minister said. He, however, added that till a few years ago, when it came to urbanisation, no attention was paid to its future needs, people worked half-heartedly and there was confusion all around. “Urbanisation was taking place rapidly but our cities were not equipped at the same speed to deal with its after effects,” PM Modi said, adding that this led to a huge gap between the demand for urban infrastructure and its delivery.
Recalling the legendary works of former Prime Minister Atal Vihari Vajpayee said that under his government, Delhi’s first-ever Metro was flagged off in 2002. He further added that by 2025, India will expand Metro services to more than 25 cities. As of now, India has metro services in five countries.
This isn’t just an infrastructure made of bricks, stones and concrete. This, in fact, is the evidence of the fulfilment of the ambitions of the country’s middle class,” he said while comparing the development of Metro trains in the country.
India’s first driverless Metro will run on Delhi Metro’s Magenta Line, between Janakpuri West and Botanical Garden.
According to reports, the driverless trains will have six coaches and will be equipped with several advanced features such as better regeneration of energy during braking, emergency efficient sub systems like LED lighting and air conditioning systems. They will operate at a speed of 85 kmph to 95 kmph, Delhi Metro had said.
