Magenta Line: PSDs, hi-tech signalling among firsts for DMRC

New Delhi: The much-awaited Delhi Metro Rail Corporation’s (DMRC) Magenta Line will be opened for the public from December 25. This section will boost tourism in the area as several tourist attractions, such as the Lotus Temple, Kalkaji Mandir, Okhla Bird Sanc-tuary, and the Botanical Garden in Noida, are located within walking distance of this corridor. It will also reduce the travel time between Noida and South Delhi to 19 minutes over an hour.

The new Magenta Line of the Delhi Metro, which will directly connect Kalkaji in South Delhi to Noida, has many firsts to its credit, including platform screen doors (PSDs) and a hi-tech signalling technology for the movement of trains, officials said on Friday.

The 12.64 km section, which is part of the upcoming Botanical Garden (Noida)-Janakpuri West (Delhi) corridor, has nine stations and is set to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 25.

“This line will have many firsts to its credit. For the first time in India, trains will run unattended. The platform screen doors (PSDs) are being us-ed here for the first time,” the DMRC chief spokespe-rson, Anuj Dayal, said.

PSDs are glass-made screens installed near the edge of platforms that open only when a train arrives and shuts after it departs. They are installed to enhance commuter safety.

“Besides, a new-age technology known as the communication based train control (CBTC) signalling technology, which can facilitate movement of trains with a frequency of 90 to 100 seconds, will also be pressed into service,” Mr Dayal said.

He was interacting with reporters after a preview of the corridor ahead of its mega launch on Christmas. Initially, trains will operate with the frequency of 5 minutes and 14 seconds on this section, the DMRC said.

“The new line would be officially launched by the Hon’ble Prime Minister in the afternoon at the newly built Kallkaji Metro station of the Magenta Line. It would be open to the public from 5 pm onwards,” he said.

The DMRC authorities said that 10 trains would operate on this new line while two would be kept on reserve.

The coaches running on this line have LED information display, power charging capacity including USB ports, and colourful seats of different shades. The new stations have been tastefully decorated, reflecting themes of nature, yoga, and cultural landmarks.