Barakhamba-Indraprastha stretch of DMRC Line 3 launched

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

New Delhi, Nov 11 (UNI) The much-awaited Barakhamba-Indraprastha extension stretch of Line three of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation began operations today, bringing with it a promise of fewer 'parking blues' and less traffic chaos for visitors to the India International Trade Fair this year.

The 2.81 km Barakhamba Road-Indraprastha section, comprising stations of Mandi House, Pragati Maidan and Indraprastha, was thrown open to the public with the inaugural run of Metro train from the Indraprastha station at 1130 hours this morning.

Coming as it does just before the start of the India International Trade Fair on November 14, the launching of the section, an extension of the Barakhamba Road-Dwarka line of the Delhi Metro, is expected to abate the 'parking blues' and 'traffic chaos' witnessed during the IITF, held between November 14 and November 27 every year.

Delhi Metro has also made special arrangements to facilitate the movement of visitors to the IITF. For example, the existing number of ten ticket operating machines on the Pragati Maidan station will be increased to 16 on the days of the fair depending on the number of commuters.

Besides, the station has been equipped with 16 Automatic Fare collection gates and has two entries and exits.

A temporary walkway is also being constructed from behind the Pragati Maidan Metro station so that visitors can directly go up to Hall 12 of Pragati Maidan without having to use the busy Mathura Road. The walkway will be about 300-metre-long.

The DMRC has also announced that for the benefit of its passengers, it would sell IITF ticket five rupees less than the normal rate.

The starting of the stretch will also facilitate lakhs of officegoers from East Delhi areas who commute daily to their offices in and around Connaught Place. Further, many of the children have their schools in and around the Mandi House area.

Trains on the Barakhamba Road-Indraprastha stretch will operate between 0600 hrs and 2200 hours daily like the trains on the Barakhamba Road-Dwarka section, the spokesperson said.

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit had last month inspected the three stations of the section, an extension of the Barakhamba Road-Dwarka line of the Delhi Metro.

The section was given clearance by the Commissioner of railway safety earlier this week.

The 2.81 km stretch will have three stations - Mandi House, Pragati Maidan and Indraprastha. While the Mandi House station is underground, the other two are elevated.

So, while the stretch will be underground from Barakhamba Road to Mandi House, that between Pragati Maidan and I P Estate will be elevated. From Mandi House, the line will emerge from under the ground on a 330-metre-long ramp at Sikandra road.

A unique feature of the section is that for the first time, the stations have been designed entirely by Indian engineers.

Opening of the section has been delayed by nearly a month largely due to the extra time required for the construction of the "extra dozed bridge" to connect the metro network between Pragati Maidan and I P estate.

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