New Delhi: Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Sunday said it has undertaken a comprehensive mid-life refurbishment initiative for 70 trains running on Red and Blue Lines to enhance passenger safety, comfort and overall travel experience.The trains, which were inducted between 2002 and 2007 and have completed nearly 19 to 24 years of service, are being upgraded with modern systems and features to align them with the latest rolling stock standards.The trains are being refurbished in a phased manner; 31 have so far been retrofitted with upgraded features. “In the first phase, 12 trains have been upgraded. In the second, 18 trains have been refurbished.
Work on another nine trains will begin soon before the rest of the trains are upgraded. In the third phase, 22 Blue Line trains will be refurbished by Nov 2027,” said Anuj Dayal, principal executive director, corporate communications, DMRC.Vikas Kumar, managing director of DMRC, inspected the first refurbished train of the third phase before it was inducted into passenger service.The work includes major improvements to both train interiors and systems.
The interiors, including passenger sections and driver cabins, have been repainted to restore aesthetics and fix the wear and tear from many years of use. Electrical panels have been upgraded to enhance performance and reliability.Passenger announcement and passenger information systems, CCTV systems and LCD-based dynamic route map, along with display screens, have been installed. “These systems provide real-time information about routes, current time and expected arrival of trains at stations.
They also enable communication between passengers and train operators during emergencies,” said Dayal.For passenger safety, a new fire detection system, equipped with smoke and heat detectors, has been installed in all coaches. “Old relays and miniature circuit breakers (MCBs) have been replaced with advanced units to improve safety and ensure smooth operations,” Dayal said, adding that mobile- and laptop-charging points for passengers have been introduced in all refurbished coaches.The first section of Delhi Metro’s Red Line — from Tis Hazari to Shahdara — was inaugurated on Dec 24, 2002, and opened to the public a day later. The Blue Line’s first section was inaugurated on Dec 31, 2005.
