Delhi Metro rail grew faster than Tokyo Metro in 20 years: Ambassador SUZUKI Hiroshi

NEW DELHI: Overwhelmed by the enormous success and expanse of Delhi Metro Rail operations in Delhi, SUZUKI Hiroshi, Ambassador of Japan to India said Saturday that he was surprised to know that Delhi Metro expanded faster than Tokyo Metro in last 20 years of its operations.

SUZUKI who ceremonially traveled in the Delhi metro train from Kashmere Gate Metro station to Welcome Metro station to participate in the 20^th anniversary celebration of Delhi Metro Rail operation in India, said in Hindi language that he was surprised that Delhi Metro’s development standard has surpassed Tokyo metro in last 20 years.

“Delhi Metro’s network total length is now 390 kms, and it has 286 stations. It’s also proividing technical assistance to other cities such as Patna Metro Project Bihar. Delhi Metro has crossed borders to assist metros in Dhaka in Bangladesh and and Jakarta in Indonesia. DMRC is also meeting the challenges of climate changes head on. It’s already achieved carbon neutrality and earned carbon  credits,” said Ambassador SUZUKI who recently returned from Gujarat after inspecting the work going on Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed rail Corridor there.

Delhi Metro project was technically and financially assisted by Japan government through its Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The Tokyo Metro (東京メトロ) which is a major rapid transit system in Tokyo, Japan, is operated by the Tokyo Metro Co., and has 286  stations with a total network length of 190 kms.

Delhi Metro Saturday celebrated the landmark moment of completing 20 years of successful metro operations in the national capital region. This occasion was marked with the inauguration of a special exhibition on highlights of 20 years of metro operations and the Indo-Japan partnership, as the year 2022 marks the completion of 70 years of diplomatic relations between India and Japan.

This special exhibition was inaugurated at Welcome Metro Station by SUZUKI Hiroshi, Ambassador of Japan to India, in the presence of DMRC’s Managing Director, Vikas Kumar, SAITO Mitsunori, Chief Representative, JICA India Office,  TANIGUCHI Hajime, Senior Representative, JIC, M P Singh, Chief of Development Operations, JICA, Kenichi Sakari, Project Director, Nippon Signal, Hasegawa Shumpei, Asst Manager, Nippon Signal,   KOTARO Sagara, Executive Head, Mitsubishi Corporation, Reiko ABE, Chairperson, Oriental Consultants India, Shoko Noda, Resident Representative, UNDP, Yuta Kono, SDGs Coordination  Officer, UNDP, and many other senior officials from DMRC and JICA . Japan has a long-standing association with the DMRC since the inception of the organisation through financial support and technical assistance for the construction of all phases of the Delhi Metro project so far.

This exhibition offers the glimpses of Delhi Metro’s landmark moments in the past 20 years and covers special occasions such as inauguration of major corridors, introduction of new technologies, unique facilities, interesting facts and visits by important personalities. The exhibition also showcases the partnership of Delhi Metro and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and other Japanese organisations which have supported Delhi Metro in its journey so far.

As part of the celebrations of the 20th operations anniversary, the first train which was flagged off by the then Prime Minister Atal Bihar Vajpayee on 24th December, 2002, was specially decorated and operated today on the Red Line. Announcements were made inside the train to inform passengers that they were travelling in the very first train which sparked a delightful reaction from the passengers inside the train.

Delhi Metro utilises the space in its stations to showcase artworks and exhibitions that reflect either the rich culture of places where the stations are located or to commemorate special occasions or cover a specific theme. For instance, an exhibition installed at Rajiv Chowk Metro station in August 2022 extensively covered the tragedy of ‘Partition’. Similarly, a permanent exhibition at Rajouri Garden Metro Station pays tribute to the heroes of armed forces. Many of our stations have theme-based art works as well.

The journey of Delhi Metro operations commenced on 24th December, 2002, when the then Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee had flagged off the first ever train on the 8.4 kilometer long Shahadara to Tis Hazari corridor of Red Line. Since then, the Delhi Metro network expanded exponentially. The expansion of the network has also been among the fastest in the world, as more than 380 kilometres of new lines have been added since 2002. Today, DMRC operates 391 kilometers of metro network with 286 stations on 12 corridors (Including Noida – Greater Noida and Rapid Metro, Gurugram) across Delhi-NCR.

Today Delhi Metro is the largest metro network in India and among the largest metros in the world with some of the most advanced technologies such as driverless metro operations on two corridors. The network is further being expanded in the phase – IV project, after completion of which, another 65 kilometers of network will be added. Currently, the construction is in progress on three approved priority corridors of Phase IV. Two of them are the extension of existing Pink (Majlis Park to Maujpur) and Magenta (R K Ashram Marg to Japankpuri West) Lines, while a new Silver Line will come up connecting Tughlakabad to Delhi Aerocity.