The Prime Minister has recently launched the nation’s first fully automated Metro, famously known as the Driverless Metro, on Delhi Metro’s Magenta Line. Additionally, the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC), which is now fully operational, has been extended to the Airport Express Line under the management of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).
Driverless Metro: A Significant Milestone
This new development propels DMRC into the top 7% of world’s Metro networks that offer such advanced facilities. Metro rail, which was only operational in five cities in 2014, has now extended its reach to 18 cities, with a noticeable surge in the number of users.
The driverless trains promise full automation and are designed to eliminate any possibility of human error. The Grades of Automation (GoA) technology employed in these trains consists of four levels – from GoA 1 where one driver is responsible for operation, to GoA 4 which involves completely automated operations without any human intervention.
Significance of the Innovation
The new system is highly energy efficient as it uses a braking system that feeds 50% of the energy back into the grid. This considerable saving of energy, coupled with the involvement of several giant corporations in the production of Metro coaches and components, gives a major boost to the country’s Make in India initiative.
Currently, Metro operations utilize 130 MW of solar power, a figure that the government aims to increase to 600 MW in the future. With the provision of models like Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) and Metro Lite, the distance between big cities and within them can be significantly reduced.
National Common Mobility Card: A New Era of Convenience
The NCMC offers access to all modes of transportation and eliminates the need for passengers to wait in long queues for tokens. Aside from travel, the card can be used to pay toll charges, make retail purchases, and even withdraw money.
The NCMC ensures that anyone carrying a RuPay-Debit Card can avail Metro services, irrespective of where in the country the card was issued. This not only consolidates various platforms for people but also aids research by providing valuable data regarding traveling patterns of individuals.
Ongoing Developmental Works in Delhi
Several initiatives have been taken to transform Delhi’s old infrastructure into an eco-friendly one leveraging modern technology. Some of these include incentivizing electric vehicles (EVs) via tax rebates, improving living conditions for slum dwellers by regularizing colonies, and creating new tourist spots for employment generation.
Additionally, the Central Vista Redevelopment Project, which includes constructing a new Parliament building, is expected to create job opportunities for thousands and contribute to a major facelift of the city.