Metro breathes 'clean': Study

New Delhi, June 11 (UNI) A study has found that the Delhi Metro not only saves time but also lives as it has cleaner air than any other mode of transport.

The levels of particulate matter inside the Metro have been found to be much lower than in the other modes of public transport, according to the study undertaken by Central Road Research Institute.

The Metro is the most preferred mode of transport, contributing to the environment and society by saving the commuters time, fuel, cost, pollution and accidents.

Total suspended particulates (TSP) inside the Metro was found to be about 280 micrograms per cubic metre of air (ug/m3) while this figure was 350 ug/m3 in cars, more than 400 ug/m3 in buses and about 290 ug/m3 for pedestrians.

As for particulate matter PM10, Metro cars had a concentration of only about 190 ug/m3 while this figure stood at above 250 ug/m3 for buses and cars. The figure for pedestrians was above 200 ug/m3.

According to a commuter survey, carried out as part of the study, about 80 per cent of the passengers had shifted from the public bus system, nearly four per cent from auto-rickshaws and taxis and about 16 per cent from private modes.

About 40 per cent of vehicle owners have already shifted to the Metro.

The shift of passengers from road-based transport modes to the Metro is also bringing about substantial savings by indirectly reducing the cost of road maintenance and traffic management.

''It has also saved the exchequer such encumbers as road maintenance, routine pavement maintenance, patching work, micro surfacing, drain clearance and periodical maintenance like resealing and overlay,'' the study said.

UNI