NEWDELHI: The Commonwealth Games (CWG) opening ceremony was a resounding success, but the new Metro line from Central Secretariat to Sarita Vihar wasn't such a great business proposition.
Far fewer commuters than expected turned up on the line's opening day. The line attracted about nine lakh passengers, even though it connects the city to the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the venue of Sunday's CWG ceremony. Around 50,000 used the Metro station at the stadium.
A Delhi Metro official said, "The new Metro line connecting the stadium recorded a footfall of about 9 lakh commuters, but if it were a normal day, the Metro ridership would have been close to 13 lakh."
The Central SecretariatSarita Vihar corridor was thrown open for commuter operations at 8 a.m Sunday.
But there were not enough takers as most shops and commercial establishments were closed on account of security for the CWG ceremony.
"Although the new Metro line emerged as the main mode of public transport on which people depended for reaching the Games venue, it didn't record a increased ridership. If it where working day or a normal weekend without any security restrictions like closed shops the Metro ridership would have touched the 13lakh mark," the Metro official said."
Ahmedabad to get metro rail link
The ambitious Ahmedabad Metro project will soon get on the fast track as surveys and the detailed project reports on the rail link, with Gandhinagar in the first phase, are in their final stages.
"Studies are on whether an underground metro line is possible in old areas of the city connecting Kalupur railway station to Income Tax Circle, Urban Development Secretary B K Sinha told reporters.
The first phase plan of the metro rail project is to facilitate movement between the city and Gandhinagar, Gujarat Infrastructure Development Board (GIDB) officials said.
Preparation of detailed project report (DPR) for metro rail system for Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar was initiated by the GIDB in 2003 through Delhi Metro Rail Corporation DMRC) and the Rail India Technical and Economic Services (Rites).
The DPR was submitted by the DMRC in June, 2005, officials said.
However, the project was put on back burner as the state decided to implement the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) first.
In 2008, considering the development activities in and around Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, it was decided to go ahead with the Metro Rail project, officials said.
Being a rapidly progressing city, Ahmedabad felt the need of a credible public transport system in 2001 when local city bus service, Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Service, was in dire straits.
In phase I of the metro rail network, the state government has plans to connect airport and Gift City?