Short of money, DMRC closes platform screen doors in phase-3
When platform screen door (PSD) has become an essential part of any major metro project in Asia and Europe, debt-ridden Delhi Metro has decided not to install PDS in any of the stations in Phase 3.
When platform screen door (PSD) has become an essential part of any major metro project in Asia and Europe, debt-ridden Delhi Metro has decided not to install PDS in any of the stations in Phase 3.
"Installing screen doors at the platforms are very expensive. Another issue which appeared as a major challenge is to efficiently operate two sets of doors together," a source said.
In a bid to deter those with suicidal tendencies and also prevent commuters from losing their balance and falling on the tracks, Delhi Metro had planned to install screen doors at some stations (reported in HT's January 30 edition).
Now sources said it has been decided that screen doors will be installed at six metro stations - Kashmere Gate, Rajiv Chowk, Central Secretariat, Chandni Chowk, Chawri Bazar and New Delhi, all on Line 2 - within the next two years.
DMRC chief Mangu Singh, however, reiterated that no platform screen doors will be installed at any phase 3 station. "We will install half screen doors at six existing stations within the next two years," he said.
"But this will be a difficult task for us," he said, adding that Delhi Metro is presently working out modalities on how to install them at these busy stations where commuter density is high throughout the day.
PSDs are automatic glass doors that keep passengers safe and away from the tracks. They are a relatively new addition to many metro systems around the world. All six stations of the Airport Metro Express line - the 22.7 km New Delhi-Dwarka Sector 21 Metro line -have platform screen doors.
Meanwhile, talking about underground metro construction, especially on the controversial corridor connecting Central Secretariat with Kashmere Gate, which will pass through a number of protected monuments and heritage properties, Singh said.
DMRC would create a centralised monitoring centre to ensure high efficiency of construction monitoring.
"This will ensure that heritage properties are not hampered while the tunnel boring machines will automatically dig the soil to create tunnels," he added.
About 140 km long Phase 3 will have about 50 km underground portion for which about 25 TBMs will be used, Singh said.