A quick-thinking Indian origin metro train driver saved an Asian man, who was shoved onto the tracks in an apparent hate crime, according to media reports.&nbsp;

The driver, Tobin Madathil, said that he had put the train on an emergency mode after he saw the man on the tracks, managing to stop the train less than 10 metres from the victim, and went on to help him, the New York Post reported on Tuesday.&nbsp;

He told the newspaper, "I'm glad I was able to stop on time and didn't hit the guy, thank God!"&nbsp;

The Hill website called him "heroic."&nbsp;

Police told the newspaper that they were investigating the attack on the Asian man as a possible hate crime.&nbsp;

The 36-year-old man was pushed from the platform in front of the train that Madathil driving just as it was approaching the underground station on Monday.&nbsp;

Police described to the Post the alleged attacker they were searching for as a Black man and tweeted a picture of the suspect.&nbsp;

New York City has suffered an upsurge of communal violence against Asians and Jews most of them perpetrated by non-White persons. This year, till the beginning of May, there were 80 hate crime attacks on Asians in the city and 54 against Jews, according to police.&nbsp;

"Right when I was coming into the station people were waving at me, and that's when I immediately placed the train into emergency mode," Madathil, 29, who has been a driver with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority for two years, told the Post.&nbsp;

"I exited the train and went to the victim. He was bleeding from the head."&nbsp;

The metro transit system is referred to as the "subway" in New York and the drivers as "operators".&nbsp;

"I just try to stay focused at all times when I operate, just watch the tracks and platform, just be alert," Madathil said.&nbsp;

The victim was taken to a hospital with injuries to the head.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

A quick-thinking Indian origin metro train driver saved an Asian man, who was shoved onto the tracks in an apparent hate crime, according to media reports. The driver, Tobin Madathil, said that he had put the train on an emergency mode after he saw the man on the tracks, managing to stop the train less than 10 metres from the victim, and went on to help him, the New York Post reported on Tuesday.

A quick-thinking Indian origin metro train driver saved an Asian man, who was shoved onto the tracks in an apparent hate crime, according to media reports. The driver, Tobin Madathil, said that he had put the train on an emergency mode after he saw the man on the tracks, managing to stop the train less than 10 metres from the victim, and went on to help him, the New York Post reported on Tuesday. He told the newspaper, "I'm glad I was able to stop on time and didn't hit the guy, thank God!" The Hill website called him "heroic." Police told the newspaper that they were investigating the attack on the Asian man as a possible hate crime. The 36-year-old man was pushed from the platform in front of the train that Madathil driving just as it was approaching the underground station on Monday. Police described to the Post the alleged attacker they were searching for as a Black man and tweeted a picture of the suspect. New York City has suffered an upsurge of communal violence against Asians and Jews most of them perpetrated by non-White persons. This year, till the beginning of May, there were 80 hate crime attacks on Asians in the city and 54 against Jews, according to police. "Right when I was coming into the station people were waving at me, and that's when I immediately placed the train into emergency mode," Madathil, 29, who has been a driver with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority for two years, told the Post. "I exited the train and went to the victim. He was bleeding from the head." The metro transit system is referred to as the "subway" in New York and the drivers as "operators". "I just try to stay focused at all times when I operate, just watch the tracks and platform, just be alert," Madathil said. The victim was taken to a hospital with injuries to the head. (With inputs from agencies)

'Heroic' Indian American metro train driver saves Asian man from hate crime 

On Monday, an elevated tram outran its tracks in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

It did not plunge off the pathway, but instead ended up on top of a statue of a whale’s tail. If it had outrun the track, the train would went down by 10 metres. The conductor showed up from the tram shocked, but still unharmed. Additionally, there were no passengers onboard the train.

<img alt="A general view of a metro that crashed through a stop block and landed on an artwork of a whale tail at De Akkers subway station in Spijkenisse, near Roterdam, Netherlands November 2, 2020" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ef972c4b-7973-47b8-a650-5cb3c20a08c2" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%285%29_44.jpg" />

<h6>A general view of a metro that crashed through a stop block and landed on an artwork of a whale tail at De Akkers subway station in Spijkenisse, near Roterdam, Netherlands November 2, 2020 | Reuters</h6>

&nbsp;

The statue’s name is coincidentally "Saved by a Whale's Tale", but its curators didn’t have saving a train in mind when they came up with the concept.

"Of course it does look rather poetic," artist and architect Maarten Struijs said in conversation with the Algemeen Dagblad newspaper.&nbsp;

<img alt="A general view of a metro that crashed through a stop block and landed on an artwork of a whale tail at De Akkers subway station in Spijkenisse, near Roterdam, Netherlands November 2, 2020." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0106ee43-a9c3-4764-bcf5-6df8bdca06da" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%286%29_50.jpg" />

<h6>A general view of a metro that crashed through a stop block and landed on an artwork of a whale tail at De Akkers subway station in Spijkenisse, near Roterdam, Netherlands November 2, 2020 | Reuters</h6>

"But it's really lucky that the tail can bear the weight of the train”, the artist added.

Passers-by noticed the tram suspended on top of the statue. Many on social media suggested the train to be permanently stationed on the spot. Rotterdam Metro and local officials claimed that it wouldn’t be safe.

Currently, engineers are trying to understand how the tram derailed, and how to safely remove it from the statue.

On Monday, an elevated tram outran its tracks in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. It did not plunge off the pathway, but instead ended up on top of a statue of a whale’s tail.

On Monday, an elevated tram outran its tracks in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. It did not plunge off the pathway, but instead ended up on top of a statue of a whale’s tail. If it had outrun the track, the train would went down by 10 metres. The conductor showed up from the tram shocked, but still unharmed. Additionally, there were no passengers onboard the train. A general view of a metro that crashed through a stop block and landed on an artwork of a whale tail at De Akkers subway station in Spijkenisse, near Roterdam, Netherlands November 2, 2020 | Reuters The statue’s name is coincidentally "Saved by a Whale's Tale", but its curators didn’t have saving a train in mind when they came up with the concept. "Of course it does look rather poetic," artist and architect Maarten Struijs said in conversation with the Algemeen Dagblad newspaper. A general view of a metro that crashed through a stop block and landed on an artwork of a whale tail at De Akkers subway station in Spijkenisse, near Roterdam, Netherlands November 2, 2020 | Reuters "But it's really lucky that the tail can bear the weight of the train”, the artist added. Passers-by noticed the tram suspended on top of the statue. Many on social media suggested the train to be permanently stationed on the spot. Rotterdam Metro and local officials claimed that it wouldn’t be safe. Currently, engineers are trying to understand how the tram derailed, and how to safely remove it from the statue.

Saved by a Whale's Tale: Tram runs off track, lands on whale statue's tail in the Netherlands

The metro train services in the capital city of Delhi resumed services on Monday after experiencing a shut down for more than five months imposed to contain the spread of novel coronavirus.

The metro services are to begin in a phased manner and on Monday, Yellow Line that connects Samaypur Badli in Delhi to the HUDA City Centre in Gurgaon began operation.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-unlock-40-metro-rail-services-to-restart-from-september-7-schools-universities-to-remain-closed-323961">India Unlock 4.0: Metro rail services to restart from September 7; schools, universities to remain closed</a>

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has decided to resume services with Yellow Line or Line 2 and Rapid Metro and the entire operations are scheduled to begin in three phases from September 7 to September 12.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/berlin-metro-to-change-derogatory-station-name-by-end-of-year-310741#:~:text=Berlin's%20public%20transport%20company%20BVG,for%20people%20from%20North%20Africa.">Berlin metro to change derogatory station name by end of year</a>

Officials have said that in the first stage, Delhi Metro will run for four hours each from 7-11 am in the morning and 4-8 pm in the evening.&nbsp;

Check out some of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOFs) issued by the government of India for the resumption of metro services.&nbsp;

1. The wearing of face masks are mandatory for all the passengers and metro staff.&nbsp; 
2. Only asymptomatic people will be allowed to travel following a thermal screening at the entry of a metro station.&nbsp; 
3. Passengers will be encouraged to use smart cards/ online transactions for boarding a metro train. Tokens/ tickets will only be issued after proper sanitisation.&nbsp; 
4. Sanitizers to made available at the entry points of the metro stations.&nbsp; 
5. Passengers are advised to carry minimum luggage and avoid carrying metallic items.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The metro train services in the capital city of Delhi resumed services on Monday after experiencing a shut down for more than five months imposed to contain the spread of novel coronavirus.

The metro train services in the capital city of Delhi resumed services on Monday after experiencing a shut down for more than five months imposed to contain the spread of novel coronavirus. The metro services are to begin in a phased manner and on Monday, Yellow Line that connects Samaypur Badli in Delhi to the HUDA City Centre in Gurgaon began operation. Also read | India Unlock 4.0: Metro rail services to restart from September 7; schools, universities to remain closed The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has decided to resume services with Yellow Line or Line 2 and Rapid Metro and the entire operations are scheduled to begin in three phases from September 7 to September 12. Also read | Berlin metro to change derogatory station name by end of year Officials have said that in the first stage, Delhi Metro will run for four hours each from 7-11 am in the morning and 4-8 pm in the evening. Check out some of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOFs) issued by the government of India for the resumption of metro services. 1. The wearing of face masks are mandatory for all the passengers and metro staff. 2. Only asymptomatic people will be allowed to travel following a thermal screening at the entry of a metro station. 3. Passengers will be encouraged to use smart cards/ online transactions for boarding a metro train. Tokens/ tickets will only be issued after proper sanitisation. 4. Sanitizers to made available at the entry points of the metro stations. 5. Passengers are advised to carry minimum luggage and avoid carrying metallic items.

Delhi Metro resumes services: Here is a list of SOPs that you should know

Unlock 4: Delhi metro resumes services after COVID-19 lockdown

A plea seeking linking of a metro card and/or token with the commuter's address proof was declined by Delhi High Court.

The plea has been dismissed by High Court stating that&nbsp;no representation about the issue had been made to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) before moving the court.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/covid-19-this-sikh-shrine-in-indias-national-capital-feeds-close-to-75000-people-every-day-297592">Also read:&nbsp;COVID-19: This Sikh shrine in India's national capital feeds close to 75,000 people every day</a>

The petitioners had requested to link the metro cards with the address and identity proof. The request was made to make sure that a right to ownership can be claimed over the metro cards and tokens, in case it is stolen or lost.

They also stated that it will help the government keep a track of commuters in the pandemic situation.

The bench consisted of Justice Manmohan and Justice Sanjeev Narula. The bench has asked the petitioners to to first move the representation before the DMRC on this issue.

In case the petitioners move a representation to the DMRC, it is supposed to dispose of the plea within four weeks by a reasoned order after taking inputs from authorities concerned.

(With inputs from ANI)

A plea seeking linking of a metro card and/or token with the commuter's address proof was declined by Delhi High Court. The plea has been dismissed by High Court stating that no representation about the issue had been made to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) before moving the court.

A plea seeking linking of a metro card and/or token with the commuter's address proof was declined by Delhi High Court. The plea has been dismissed by High Court stating that no representation about the issue had been made to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) before moving the court. Also read: COVID-19: This Sikh shrine in India's national capital feeds close to 75,000 people every day The petitioners had requested to link the metro cards with the address and identity proof. The request was made to make sure that a right to ownership can be claimed over the metro cards and tokens, in case it is stolen or lost. They also stated that it will help the government keep a track of commuters in the pandemic situation. The bench consisted of Justice Manmohan and Justice Sanjeev Narula. The bench has asked the petitioners to to first move the representation before the DMRC on this issue. In case the petitioners move a representation to the DMRC, it is supposed to dispose of the plea within four weeks by a reasoned order after taking inputs from authorities concerned. (With inputs from ANI)

Delhi HC declines plea to link metro card with address proof

People travelling on Noida Metro Rail Corporation's Aqua Line will now be able to book train coaches for personal or professional events.&nbsp;

According to reports, the service will be available for Rs 5,000-10,000 per hour as per the service packages.

The move has been taken to increase Metro's viability and to provide better facilities to commuters.&nbsp;

A press release posted on the Noida Metro's official website reads, "Noida Metro in addition to the mode of travel, will also become an accessible, attractive and affordable destination for entertainment and celebrations that too at a very reasonable cost".

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/delhi-metro-station-brings-alive-memories-of-partition-265263">Delhi Metro station brings alive memories of partition</a>

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Noida Metro Rail Corp has introduced new facility for commuters in which a coach or complete metro can be booked at Rs 5,000-10,000/hr package to have official or personal events. Ritu Maheshwari, MD says, "Decision taken to increase Metro's viability&amp;to give better facilities". <a href="https://t.co/yeHyo42ECg">pic.twitter.com/yeHyo42ECg</a>
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/1228269469681602561?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2020</a></blockquote>
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"The aim behind the policy is to develop NMRC as the unique destination for Birthday and Pre-Wedding Celebrations for residents of Noida and Greater Noida," it read.&nbsp;

The applicant can choose to get one to four Metro coaches booked for the event. The applicant will need to submit an application to NMRC at least 15 days in advance. The applications will be considered on 'first come first serve' basis.&nbsp;

The applicants will need to pay license fee which may vary from Rs 5,000 to 10,000 per hour/per metro coach, excluding taxes.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/lifeline-of-delhi-ncr-delhi-metro-completes-17-years-of-operations-270188">Delhi Metro completes 17 years of operations</a>

Decorated or undecorated coach in a running metro or a static metro will also incur charges accordingly.

Besides this, a refundable, interest-free security deposit of Rs 20,000 should also be deposited by the applicant.&nbsp;

"The coach(es) (decorated/undecorated) in regular running metro shall be available in the operational hours whereas in stand still metro shall be available in operational hours as well as non-operational hours. Non-operational hours would be from 11 pm to 2 am only," the NMRC stated on its website.

Not more than 50 people shall be allowed per coach for the event.&nbsp;

People travelling on Noida Metro Rail Corporation's Aqua Line will now be able to book train coaches for personal or professional events. According to reports, the service will be available for Rs 5,000-10,000 per hour as per the service packages.

People travelling on Noida Metro Rail Corporation's Aqua Line will now be able to book train coaches for personal or professional events. According to reports, the service will be available for Rs 5,000-10,000 per hour as per the service packages. The move has been taken to increase Metro's viability and to provide better facilities to commuters. A press release posted on the Noida Metro's official website reads, "Noida Metro in addition to the mode of travel, will also become an accessible, attractive and affordable destination for entertainment and celebrations that too at a very reasonable cost". Also read: Delhi Metro station brings alive memories of partition Noida Metro Rail Corp has introduced new facility for commuters in which a coach or complete metro can be booked at Rs 5,000-10,000/hr package to have official or personal events. Ritu Maheshwari, MD says, "Decision taken to increase Metro's viability&to give better facilities". pic.twitter.com/yeHyo42ECg — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) February 14, 2020 × "The aim behind the policy is to develop NMRC as the unique destination for Birthday and Pre-Wedding Celebrations for residents of Noida and Greater Noida," it read. The applicant can choose to get one to four Metro coaches booked for the event. The applicant will need to submit an application to NMRC at least 15 days in advance. The applications will be considered on 'first come first serve' basis. The applicants will need to pay license fee which may vary from Rs 5,000 to 10,000 per hour/per metro coach, excluding taxes. Also read: Delhi Metro completes 17 years of operations Decorated or undecorated coach in a running metro or a static metro will also incur charges accordingly. Besides this, a refundable, interest-free security deposit of Rs 20,000 should also be deposited by the applicant. "The coach(es) (decorated/undecorated) in regular running metro shall be available in the operational hours whereas in stand still metro shall be available in operational hours as well as non-operational hours. Non-operational hours would be from 11 pm to 2 am only," the NMRC stated on its website. Not more than 50 people shall be allowed per coach for the event.

Not just travel, you can now throw birthday parties and pre-wedding celebration on Noida Metro's Aqua Line

The Delhi Metro, the lifeline of Delhi-NCR, has completed 17 years of operations and continues to remain the most popular form of mass transport in the city.

Measuring nearly 350 kilometres and having 253 stations, the Delhi Metro network has over the years spanned length and breadth, covering every nook and corner of the city and the nearby NCR, with a ridership of over 26 lakh people annually.

On December 24, 2002, the Delhi Metro began operations along an 8.5-kilometre stretch between Shahdara and Tis Hazari stations on the Red Line.

As the years progressed, more lines have been constructed under three phases and today, Delhi has one of the most extensive metro networks in India.

It has been built with assistance from Japan, which helped Delhi Metro with funding of its projects.

Currently, there are nine-colour coded metro lines -- Red Line (Dilshad Garden to Shaheed Sthal New Bus Adda), Blue Line (Dwarka Sector 21 to Noida Electronic City/Vaishali), Yellow Line (Samaypur Badli to HUDA City Centre), Green Line (Inderlok/Kirti Nagar to Brigadier Hoshiyar Singh), Violet Line (Kashmere Gate to Raja Nahar Singh Ballabhgarh), Airport Express Line (New Delhi to Dwarka Sector 21), Magenta Line (Janakpuri West to Botanical Garden), Pink Line (Majlis Park to Mayur Vihar Pocket 1 and Trilokpuri Sanjay Lake to Shiv Vihar) and Grey Line (Dwarka to Najafgarh).

To mark the occasion, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) organised an exhibition, an audio-visual look back at the journey so far, a live puppet show and an instrumental music performance at its headquarters, Metro Bhawan, at Barakhamba Road.

"Commemorating the 17 years of operations of Delhi Metro, Dr Mangu Singh, Managing Director/DMRC, viewed the exhibition featuring paintings of the metro by renowned artists and photographs taken by our passengers," DMRC tweeted.

"Celebrating the special day, an event with instrumental music, videos featuring spectacular visuals of Delhi Metro, an entertaining puppet show featuring travel etiquettes, and a special appearance by Mr Shammi Narang and Ms Rini Khanna, the voice of Delhi Metro, was organised," it said.

"On this day, 17 years ago, Delhi Metro began its operations from Shahdara to Tis Hazari. Speaking on the occasion, MD/DMRC, Dr Mangu Singh recounted his journey and interesting experiences with the Delhi Metro," Delhi Metro said in a follow-up tweet.

The DMRC has a good presence on social media, where it regularly informs commuters about delays or make announcements apart from sharing throwback photographs as well.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The Delhi Metro, the lifeline of Delhi-NCR, has completed 17 years of operations and continues to remain the most popular form of mass transport in the city. Measuring nearly 350 kilometres and having 253 stations, the Delhi Metro network has over the years spanned length and breadth, covering every nook and corner of the city and the nearby NCR, with a ridership of over 26 lakh people annually.

The Delhi Metro, the lifeline of Delhi-NCR, has completed 17 years of operations and continues to remain the most popular form of mass transport in the city. Measuring nearly 350 kilometres and having 253 stations, the Delhi Metro network has over the years spanned length and breadth, covering every nook and corner of the city and the nearby NCR, with a ridership of over 26 lakh people annually. On December 24, 2002, the Delhi Metro began operations along an 8.5-kilometre stretch between Shahdara and Tis Hazari stations on the Red Line. As the years progressed, more lines have been constructed under three phases and today, Delhi has one of the most extensive metro networks in India. It has been built with assistance from Japan, which helped Delhi Metro with funding of its projects. Currently, there are nine-colour coded metro lines -- Red Line (Dilshad Garden to Shaheed Sthal New Bus Adda), Blue Line (Dwarka Sector 21 to Noida Electronic City/Vaishali), Yellow Line (Samaypur Badli to HUDA City Centre), Green Line (Inderlok/Kirti Nagar to Brigadier Hoshiyar Singh), Violet Line (Kashmere Gate to Raja Nahar Singh Ballabhgarh), Airport Express Line (New Delhi to Dwarka Sector 21), Magenta Line (Janakpuri West to Botanical Garden), Pink Line (Majlis Park to Mayur Vihar Pocket 1 and Trilokpuri Sanjay Lake to Shiv Vihar) and Grey Line (Dwarka to Najafgarh). To mark the occasion, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) organised an exhibition, an audio-visual look back at the journey so far, a live puppet show and an instrumental music performance at its headquarters, Metro Bhawan, at Barakhamba Road. "Commemorating the 17 years of operations of Delhi Metro, Dr Mangu Singh, Managing Director/DMRC, viewed the exhibition featuring paintings of the metro by renowned artists and photographs taken by our passengers," DMRC tweeted. "Celebrating the special day, an event with instrumental music, videos featuring spectacular visuals of Delhi Metro, an entertaining puppet show featuring travel etiquettes, and a special appearance by Mr Shammi Narang and Ms Rini Khanna, the voice of Delhi Metro, was organised," it said. "On this day, 17 years ago, Delhi Metro began its operations from Shahdara to Tis Hazari. Speaking on the occasion, MD/DMRC, Dr Mangu Singh recounted his journey and interesting experiences with the Delhi Metro," Delhi Metro said in a follow-up tweet. The DMRC has a good presence on social media, where it regularly informs commuters about delays or make announcements apart from sharing throwback photographs as well.

Lifeline of Delhi-NCR: Delhi Metro completes 17 years of operations

Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday addressed a press conference in Chennai to highlight the achievements of the Modi 2.0 government and talked about the abrogation of Article 370, 35A and rolling out of GST and Income tax reforms. Sitharaman also responded to a plethora of questions ranging from the slump in the economy to the slowdown in the automobile sector, among other political issues.

Being in the automobile capital, Chennai, the Minister when peppered with questions on the slowdown in the sector, which is said to be the worst in nearly two decades said, “it is true that the automobile sector in India had a good time till two years ago, there was definitely a good upward trajectory for automobile sector. The automobile sector is affected by a range of issues such as the rollout of Bharat Stage VI emission standard, higher registration fee, the mindset of millennials who prefer to use ride-hailing services such as Ola and Uber over committing to an EMI for purchasing a vehicle, besides the use of public transport such as metro.”

There is a demand to consider the reduction of GST rates, what will be considered I can’t say, as it has to be decided by the GST Council, she said when asked if the GST on automobiles will be cut ahead of the festive season.

On the merger of banks, she said, The government has announced the merger of 10 public sector banks (PSBs) into four strong lenders with countrywide networks and global reach to boost credit and revive economic growth said the minister.

"The banks will benefit from each other's strength. A growing economy needs good banks. That was the reason behind merging banks. The effective date of mergers will be decided by the respective board of directors," said Sitharaman.

Speaking on the GDP that is hovering around five per cent and the scenario that led to this she said, the concerns which industries have, we are speaking to them. The GDP growth rate is at five per cent in one quarter, we won’t compare it with earlier times. &nbsp;Dips and rise in GDP growth do happen, but we are not sitting without responding to boost it. Our full focus now is on how it will rise.

Emphasizing on the closer ties between India and Russia, she said the East Russia- Chennai sea route is a big step. She recollected that during the 2016-17 Russia talks, business representatives from the East of Ural mountains states had come to Chennai and representatives from Chennai had reciprocated the visit. She added that there was 40 per cent higher trade from India’s southern states within a single year. Henceforth, goods from Vladivostok will reach Chennai port and spread across India.&nbsp;

Responding to concerns about the rising Gold prices and whether the government would move to control the rise, the Minister said, “we don't have the yellow metal in our country, we depend on importing it. So its price depends on demand in the market, Dollar rate, crude rate etc. As a lot of people invest in gold, a lot of factors determine the gold price and the government can’t easily step in to control it.&nbsp;

“Congress leadership should look at what is happening in the country and speak in one voice on issues of national security, some of Rahul Gandhi’s statements have helped Pakistan’s cause”, she said to a question on Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi’s statements being quoted by Pakistan.

Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday addressed a press conference in Chennai to highlight the achievements of the Modi 2.0 government and talked about the abrogation of Article 370, 35A and rolling out of GST and Income tax reforms.

Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday addressed a press conference in Chennai to highlight the achievements of the Modi 2.0 government and talked about the abrogation of Article 370, 35A and rolling out of GST and Income tax reforms. Sitharaman also responded to a plethora of questions ranging from the slump in the economy to the slowdown in the automobile sector, among other political issues. Being in the automobile capital, Chennai, the Minister when peppered with questions on the slowdown in the sector, which is said to be the worst in nearly two decades said, “it is true that the automobile sector in India had a good time till two years ago, there was definitely a good upward trajectory for automobile sector. The automobile sector is affected by a range of issues such as the rollout of Bharat Stage VI emission standard, higher registration fee, the mindset of millennials who prefer to use ride-hailing services such as Ola and Uber over committing to an EMI for purchasing a vehicle, besides the use of public transport such as metro.” There is a demand to consider the reduction of GST rates, what will be considered I can’t say, as it has to be decided by the GST Council, she said when asked if the GST on automobiles will be cut ahead of the festive season. On the merger of banks, she said, The government has announced the merger of 10 public sector banks (PSBs) into four strong lenders with countrywide networks and global reach to boost credit and revive economic growth said the minister. "The banks will benefit from each other's strength. A growing economy needs good banks. That was the reason behind merging banks. The effective date of mergers will be decided by the respective board of directors," said Sitharaman. Speaking on the GDP that is hovering around five per cent and the scenario that led to this she said, the concerns which industries have, we are speaking to them. The GDP growth rate is at five per cent in one quarter, we won’t compare it with earlier times. Dips and rise in GDP growth do happen, but we are not sitting without responding to boost it. Our full focus now is on how it will rise. Emphasizing on the closer ties between India and Russia, she said the East Russia- Chennai sea route is a big step. She recollected that during the 2016-17 Russia talks, business representatives from the East of Ural mountains states had come to Chennai and representatives from Chennai had reciprocated the visit. She added that there was 40 per cent higher trade from India’s southern states within a single year. Henceforth, goods from Vladivostok will reach Chennai port and spread across India. Responding to concerns about the rising Gold prices and whether the government would move to control the rise, the Minister said, “we don't have the yellow metal in our country, we depend on importing it. So its price depends on demand in the market, Dollar rate, crude rate etc. As a lot of people invest in gold, a lot of factors determine the gold price and the government can’t easily step in to control it. “Congress leadership should look at what is happening in the country and speak in one voice on issues of national security, some of Rahul Gandhi’s statements have helped Pakistan’s cause”, she said to a question on Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi’s statements being quoted by Pakistan.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman blames Uber, Ola, metro trains and BS VI for auto slowdown

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the unique Water Metro project will become operational by March next year in the state and added that it would require the efforts of all stakeholders.

"Water Metro is the first water transport system of its kind in India. The project will be implemented in a timely manner and the first phase will become a reality in March 2020. This will require the support of all representatives," Vijayan said at an event for the ground-breaking ceremony of the first terminal of the water metro.

The inauguration of Maharaja's College - Thykoodam stretch and stone-laying of Petta- SN Junction stretch was also carried out by the Kerala CM at the event attended by Union Minister of State (MoS) for Housing and Urban Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri.

Stressing upon the need for infrastructure development, Vijayan said, "The aim is to improve the infrastructure and building upon the trust of the people and implementing the development work. The government has already begun the process of developing the infrastructure."

The Water Metro is an integrated water transport project connecting 10 islands in Kochi's suburbs.

Under the Water Metro project, a total of 78 fast, fuel-efficient, air-conditioned boats will ply on 15 routes covering a distance of 76 km through Kochi backwaters.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the unique Water Metro project will become operational by March next year in the state and added that it would require the efforts of all stakeholders.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the unique Water Metro project will become operational by March next year in the state and added that it would require the efforts of all stakeholders. "Water Metro is the first water transport system of its kind in India. The project will be implemented in a timely manner and the first phase will become a reality in March 2020. This will require the support of all representatives," Vijayan said at an event for the ground-breaking ceremony of the first terminal of the water metro. The inauguration of Maharaja's College - Thykoodam stretch and stone-laying of Petta- SN Junction stretch was also carried out by the Kerala CM at the event attended by Union Minister of State (MoS) for Housing and Urban Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri. Stressing upon the need for infrastructure development, Vijayan said, "The aim is to improve the infrastructure and building upon the trust of the people and implementing the development work. The government has already begun the process of developing the infrastructure." The Water Metro is an integrated water transport project connecting 10 islands in Kochi's suburbs. Under the Water Metro project, a total of 78 fast, fuel-efficient, air-conditioned boats will ply on 15 routes covering a distance of 76 km through Kochi backwaters.

Kochi's water metro to become operational by March: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan

Metro said that an unsolicited offer by two prominent investors to take over the German retailer substantially undervalues it and advised shareholders on Sunday to hold off on taking action until management comments further.

On Friday, EP Global Commerce, an acquisition vehicle owned by the Czech and Slovak investors, made the takeover offer, which valued the company at 5.8 billion euros ($6.6 billion).

The retailer, noting that the offer price was only 3% above the closing share price on Friday, said the bid "substantially undervalues the company and does not reflect its value creation plan".

Metro said management was continuing to transform the company. It said it would comment further once the full offer document was available and that shareholders should take no action in the meanwhile.

EP Global Commerce, which already held a stake of nearly 11% in Metro, said on Friday that its offer price of 16 euros for each ordinary share and 13.80 euros for each preferred share represented a 34.5% premium to when EP Global Commerce made its initial investment in August.

The firm, co-owned by Czech investor Daniel Kretinsky and Slovak partner Patrik Tkac, said the offer was "a compelling value and a unique opportunity" for shareholders given the difficult market and challenges facing Metro.

Once a sprawling retail conglomerate, Metro has in recent years been restructuring to focus on its core cash-and-carry business, selling off the Kaufhof department stores and then splitting from consumer electronics group Ceconomy.

It still operates in 26 countries with 771 stores and 150,000 employees, but it is trying to offload its loss-making Real hypermarkets chain, as well as its operations in China.

The Czech and Slovak bidders signalled that further changes were needed at Metro, though they said they would not close stores in Germany and its core markets, or cut jobs substantially.

"Metro needs to regain the capability to swiftly react," they said, adding that otherwise, it "would be exposed to significant risks due to stagnant or declining results." ($1 = 0.8798 euros)

Metro said that an unsolicited offer by two prominent investors to take over the German retailer substantially undervalues it and advised shareholders on Sunday to hold off on taking action until management comments further.

Metro said that an unsolicited offer by two prominent investors to take over the German retailer substantially undervalues it and advised shareholders on Sunday to hold off on taking action until management comments further. On Friday, EP Global Commerce, an acquisition vehicle owned by the Czech and Slovak investors, made the takeover offer, which valued the company at 5.8 billion euros ($6.6 billion). The retailer, noting that the offer price was only 3% above the closing share price on Friday, said the bid "substantially undervalues the company and does not reflect its value creation plan". Metro said management was continuing to transform the company. It said it would comment further once the full offer document was available and that shareholders should take no action in the meanwhile. EP Global Commerce, which already held a stake of nearly 11% in Metro, said on Friday that its offer price of 16 euros for each ordinary share and 13.80 euros for each preferred share represented a 34.5% premium to when EP Global Commerce made its initial investment in August. The firm, co-owned by Czech investor Daniel Kretinsky and Slovak partner Patrik Tkac, said the offer was "a compelling value and a unique opportunity" for shareholders given the difficult market and challenges facing Metro. Once a sprawling retail conglomerate, Metro has in recent years been restructuring to focus on its core cash-and-carry business, selling off the Kaufhof department stores and then splitting from consumer electronics group Ceconomy. It still operates in 26 countries with 771 stores and 150,000 employees, but it is trying to offload its loss-making Real hypermarkets chain, as well as its operations in China. The Czech and Slovak bidders signalled that further changes were needed at Metro, though they said they would not close stores in Germany and its core markets, or cut jobs substantially. "Metro needs to regain the capability to swiftly react," they said, adding that otherwise, it "would be exposed to significant risks due to stagnant or declining results." ($1 = 0.8798 euros)

Germany's Metro says $6.6 billion bid undervalues company

With Assembly polls due early next year in the city, the Aam Aadmi Party government is considering to make metro and bus travel free for women in Delhi "to encourage them to use public transport".

At a public meeting in New Delhi Saturday, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also said his government is in touch with city's power regulator to bring down fixed charge component of electricity bill.

"The government is considering to waive fare for women in DTC buses and Delhi Metro to encourage them to use public transport in view of their safety.

An announcement in this regard will be made on June 3," the chief minister said at the public meeting in New Delhi.

A Delhi government official said Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot has already taken meetings to discuss various aspects of fare-waiver to women in all public transport buses -- run by DTC and DIMTS -- and Delhi metro.

However, Transport Department officials point out that while allowing free travel in Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and cluster buses run by the Delhi Integrated Multi Modal System(DIMTS) may not be difficult, it will be "challenging" to do so in Metro trains.

The Delhi government and the Centre are 50:50 equity partners in the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation.

An official pointed out that the Delhi government and the centre's Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry have not been on the same page over several issues related to metro, including fare hike and Phase-IV of the Metro network.

"Besides other factors like technical and financial feasibility of such a move, the persisting disagreements between the two sides may also play a crucial role in going ahead with the proposal for giving free ride to women in Metro trains," said a senior official.

Chief Minister Kejriwal also claimed that the fixed charge component of power tariff were raised by the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Authority (DERC) last year "without consulting" the Delhi government.

"Next month new tariff is to be fixed. We have asked the DERC to bring back fixed charges to previous levels and they are likely to agree to it," he said.

The monthly fixed charges were raised for domestic consumers having up to 2 KW load from Rs 20 to Rs 125.

The Delhi government provides subsidy to such consumers.

However, in other categories, consumers pay higher fixed charges.

The hike in fixed charges for other slabs were -- for 2-5 kw, from Rs 35 to Rs 140; 5-15 KW, Rs 45 to Rs 175; 15-25 kw, from Rs 60 to Rs 200; and for more than 25 KW, from Rs 100 to Rs 250.

In the just-concluded Lok Sabha polls, the AAP won only one seat out of over 40 it contested in nine states and Union Territories.

The poll results came as a jolt to the party as it builds up for the assembly elections in Delhi early next year.

Stung by the dismal performance, the AAP government swung into action just a day after the Model Code of Conduct was lifted with Chief Minister directing his ministers on May 27 to speed up work on flagship schemes like Mohalla Clinic, procurement of buses and the CCTV project.

With Assembly polls due early next year in the city, the Aam Aadmi Party government is considering to make metro and bus travel free for women in Delhi "to encourage them to use public transport".

With Assembly polls due early next year in the city, the Aam Aadmi Party government is considering to make metro and bus travel free for women in Delhi "to encourage them to use public transport". At a public meeting in New Delhi Saturday, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also said his government is in touch with city's power regulator to bring down fixed charge component of electricity bill. "The government is considering to waive fare for women in DTC buses and Delhi Metro to encourage them to use public transport in view of their safety. An announcement in this regard will be made on June 3," the chief minister said at the public meeting in New Delhi. A Delhi government official said Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot has already taken meetings to discuss various aspects of fare-waiver to women in all public transport buses -- run by DTC and DIMTS -- and Delhi metro. However, Transport Department officials point out that while allowing free travel in Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and cluster buses run by the Delhi Integrated Multi Modal System(DIMTS) may not be difficult, it will be "challenging" to do so in Metro trains. The Delhi government and the Centre are 50:50 equity partners in the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation. An official pointed out that the Delhi government and the centre's Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry have not been on the same page over several issues related to metro, including fare hike and Phase-IV of the Metro network. "Besides other factors like technical and financial feasibility of such a move, the persisting disagreements between the two sides may also play a crucial role in going ahead with the proposal for giving free ride to women in Metro trains," said a senior official. Chief Minister Kejriwal also claimed that the fixed charge component of power tariff were raised by the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Authority (DERC) last year "without consulting" the Delhi government. "Next month new tariff is to be fixed. We have asked the DERC to bring back fixed charges to previous levels and they are likely to agree to it," he said. The monthly fixed charges were raised for domestic consumers having up to 2 KW load from Rs 20 to Rs 125. The Delhi government provides subsidy to such consumers. However, in other categories, consumers pay higher fixed charges. The hike in fixed charges for other slabs were -- for 2-5 kw, from Rs 35 to Rs 140; 5-15 KW, Rs 45 to Rs 175; 15-25 kw, from Rs 60 to Rs 200; and for more than 25 KW, from Rs 100 to Rs 250. In the just-concluded Lok Sabha polls, the AAP won only one seat out of over 40 it contested in nine states and Union Territories. The poll results came as a jolt to the party as it builds up for the assembly elections in Delhi early next year. Stung by the dismal performance, the AAP government swung into action just a day after the Model Code of Conduct was lifted with Chief Minister directing his ministers on May 27 to speed up work on flagship schemes like Mohalla Clinic, procurement of buses and the CCTV project.

Delhi government plans to make metro, bus travel free for women: Arvind Kejriwal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday said four metro projects have been inaugurated across the country this week, foundation of another has been laid and one more section of Delhi Metro in Noida will be inaugurated on Saturday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday flagged off the commercial run on Lucknow Metro's 23-km North-South corridor through video conference from Kanpur and in Ghaziabad inaugurated the 9.63-km-long Dilshad Garden-New Bus Adda section, an extension of the Delhi Metro's Red Line.

Modi also laid the foundation stone for Agra Metro Rail project.

The Prime Minister enumerated the number of metro projects inaugurated by him or in the offing, a tweet in Hindi by the PMO, quoting him said.

Today, Lucknow and Ghaziabad metro projects are being inaugurated, and foundation stone being laid of Agra metro, he said.

"Tomorrow, a metro section in Noida will be inaugurated. Yesterday Nagpur Metro was opened, and this week Ahmedabad Metro also got inaugurated," Modi said.

On Monday, he had inaugurated a 6.5-km stretch of phase one of the Ahmedabad Metro train service in that city.

After inaugurating the stretch, connecting Vastral to Apparel park area, Modi had also taken a ride in the metro.

On Thursday, he had addressed a gathering in Nagpur via video conferencing after inaugurating the 13.5 km first phase of Nagpur Metro connecting Khapri-Sitaburdi areas in the city.

On Saturday, Modi will inaugurate the 6.6-km Noida City Centre-Noida Electronic City section, an extension of the Delhi Metro's Blue Line, officials said Friday.

The completely elevated section with six stations -- Sector 34, Sector 52, Sector 61, Sector 59, Sector 62 and Noida Electronic City -- will benefit the people of Noida and connect the satellite city with the national capital.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday said four metro projects have been inaugurated across the country this week, foundation of another has been laid and one more section of Delhi Metro in Noida will be inaugurated on Saturday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday said four metro projects have been inaugurated across the country this week, foundation of another has been laid and one more section of Delhi Metro in Noida will be inaugurated on Saturday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday flagged off the commercial run on Lucknow Metro's 23-km North-South corridor through video conference from Kanpur and in Ghaziabad inaugurated the 9.63-km-long Dilshad Garden-New Bus Adda section, an extension of the Delhi Metro's Red Line. Modi also laid the foundation stone for Agra Metro Rail project. The Prime Minister enumerated the number of metro projects inaugurated by him or in the offing, a tweet in Hindi by the PMO, quoting him said. Today, Lucknow and Ghaziabad metro projects are being inaugurated, and foundation stone being laid of Agra metro, he said. "Tomorrow, a metro section in Noida will be inaugurated. Yesterday Nagpur Metro was opened, and this week Ahmedabad Metro also got inaugurated," Modi said. On Monday, he had inaugurated a 6.5-km stretch of phase one of the Ahmedabad Metro train service in that city. After inaugurating the stretch, connecting Vastral to Apparel park area, Modi had also taken a ride in the metro. On Thursday, he had addressed a gathering in Nagpur via video conferencing after inaugurating the 13.5 km first phase of Nagpur Metro connecting Khapri-Sitaburdi areas in the city. On Saturday, Modi will inaugurate the 6.6-km Noida City Centre-Noida Electronic City section, an extension of the Delhi Metro's Blue Line, officials said Friday. The completely elevated section with six stations -- Sector 34, Sector 52, Sector 61, Sector 59, Sector 62 and Noida Electronic City -- will benefit the people of Noida and connect the satellite city with the national capital.

Various metro projects across country were inaugurated this week: PM Modi

The 9.7-km Lajpat Nagar-Mayur Vihar Pocket 1 corridor of the Delhi Metro's Pink Line was inaugurated by Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri here on Monday, which directly connects south and east Delhi on the rapid transit network.

The new segment is part of the 59-km-long Pink Line, which spans from Majlis Park to Shiv Vihar. According to a senior official, passenger services on the corridor will commence from 4 pm.

"This is the sixth time a metro corridor has been inaugurated this year, which is truly a great achievement. The work on the Phase-III of the DMRC has been almost completed with nearly 96 km of it being made operational this year," the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) said.

This extension of the Pink Line, part of the Phase-III of the DMRC network, was inaugurated jointly by Puri and Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia from Metro Bhawan.

Only a 1.4-km stretch between Mayur Vihar Pocket-1 and Trilokpuri Sanjay Lake stations of the Pink Line remain to be linked.

The Lajpat Nagar-Mayur Vihar Pocket 1 corridor has five stations -- Lajpat Nagar, Vinobapuri, Ashram, Hazrat Nizamuddin, Mayur Vihar Ph-I and Mayur Vihar Pocket-1.

Mayur Vihar Ph-I and Mayur Vihar Pocket-1 are elevated stations and the rest are underground, the official said.

This section has one interchange station, Mayur Vihar Ph-1. The facility of interchange of metro trains between line seven and line 3/4 is available through this station.

"South and east Delhi have now been connected directly on the network and commuters can save time by using it, who otherwise had to rely on road transport or a longer route on the Delhi Metro," Puri said.

"The new Mayur Vihar Ph-1 station is an engineering marvel as it has been constructed on a narrow road with only 13 metres of width. The viaduct adjacent to the station passes at a height of 23 metre and goes above the Dwarka&nbsp;Noida Blue Line viaduct as well as a road flyover. The new station has a length of 140 metre and has 11 escalators and six lifts," the DMRC said.

Trains will operate between Majlis Park and Mayur Vihar Pocket 1 at a peak hour frequency of 5 minutes and 12 seconds. During the non-peak hours, the frequency will be five minutes and 45 seconds.

A total 29 trains will be operational on this line, officials said.

The Hazrat Nizamuddin Metro station on the Majlis Park Shiv Vihar Pink Corridor of Delhi Metro's Phase-3 will become one of the metro network's major transit hubs as the station would provide direct connectivity with the Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station as well as the Sarai Kale Khan Inter State Bus Terminus.

"The station will have dedicated entry/exit points connecting to the Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station and the ISBT at Sarai Kale Khan. One of the entry/exit points will be within a vicinity of 50 metre from the Sarai Kale Khan ISBT. Another entry/exit will be near the Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station approximately at a distance of 150 metre," the official said.

With the opening of the new section of the Pink Line, the total operational length of the DMRC has increased to 327 km with 236 stations.

The 9.7-km Lajpat Nagar-Mayur Vihar Pocket 1 corridor of the Delhi Metro's Pink Line was inaugurated by Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri here on Monday, which directly connects south and east Delhi on the rapid transit network.

The 9.7-km Lajpat Nagar-Mayur Vihar Pocket 1 corridor of the Delhi Metro's Pink Line was inaugurated by Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri here on Monday, which directly connects south and east Delhi on the rapid transit network. The new segment is part of the 59-km-long Pink Line, which spans from Majlis Park to Shiv Vihar. According to a senior official, passenger services on the corridor will commence from 4 pm. "This is the sixth time a metro corridor has been inaugurated this year, which is truly a great achievement. The work on the Phase-III of the DMRC has been almost completed with nearly 96 km of it being made operational this year," the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) said. This extension of the Pink Line, part of the Phase-III of the DMRC network, was inaugurated jointly by Puri and Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia from Metro Bhawan. Only a 1.4-km stretch between Mayur Vihar Pocket-1 and Trilokpuri Sanjay Lake stations of the Pink Line remain to be linked. The Lajpat Nagar-Mayur Vihar Pocket 1 corridor has five stations -- Lajpat Nagar, Vinobapuri, Ashram, Hazrat Nizamuddin, Mayur Vihar Ph-I and Mayur Vihar Pocket-1. Mayur Vihar Ph-I and Mayur Vihar Pocket-1 are elevated stations and the rest are underground, the official said. This section has one interchange station, Mayur Vihar Ph-1. The facility of interchange of metro trains between line seven and line 3/4 is available through this station. "South and east Delhi have now been connected directly on the network and commuters can save time by using it, who otherwise had to rely on road transport or a longer route on the Delhi Metro," Puri said. "The new Mayur Vihar Ph-1 station is an engineering marvel as it has been constructed on a narrow road with only 13 metres of width. The viaduct adjacent to the station passes at a height of 23 metre and goes above the Dwarka Noida Blue Line viaduct as well as a road flyover. The new station has a length of 140 metre and has 11 escalators and six lifts," the DMRC said. Trains will operate between Majlis Park and Mayur Vihar Pocket 1 at a peak hour frequency of 5 minutes and 12 seconds. During the non-peak hours, the frequency will be five minutes and 45 seconds. A total 29 trains will be operational on this line, officials said. The Hazrat Nizamuddin Metro station on the Majlis Park Shiv Vihar Pink Corridor of Delhi Metro's Phase-3 will become one of the metro network's major transit hubs as the station would provide direct connectivity with the Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station as well as the Sarai Kale Khan Inter State Bus Terminus. "The station will have dedicated entry/exit points connecting to the Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station and the ISBT at Sarai Kale Khan. One of the entry/exit points will be within a vicinity of 50 metre from the Sarai Kale Khan ISBT. Another entry/exit will be near the Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station approximately at a distance of 150 metre," the official said. With the opening of the new section of the Pink Line, the total operational length of the DMRC has increased to 327 km with 236 stations.

Delhi: Lajpat Nagar-Mayur Vihar Pocket-1 corridor of Metro's Pink Line inaugurated

India already has a 515-kilometre functional network of metro tracks in various cities and 15 more will soon have over 660 kilometres of tracks for rapid urban transportation, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Monday.

Interacting with the members of the Consultative Committee attached to the Housing and Urban Affairs (HUA) Ministry, Puri spoke about new urban transport initiatives in India.

According to a statement released by the housing and urban affairs minister, the state governments and union territories have been advised to prepare and submit the Detailed Project Report (DPR) in line with the provisions in the Metro Rail Policy 2017.

"Hardeep S Puri, Minister of State (I/C) for Housing and Urban Affairs has stated that more than 664 kms of metro rail projects in 15 cities are presently under various stages of implementation, while more than 515 kms of metro line are already operational in India," the statement said.

He said several new cities are now aspiring to have metro rail systems.

To bring together the technology and service providers, policy makers, officials in urban transport from India and abroad, the 11th Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference is planned from November 2-4 at Nagpur, with the theme "Green Mobility" to disseminate up-to-date and best urban transport practices information to the cities, he added.

India already has a 515-kilometre functional network of metro tracks in various cities and 15 more will soon have over 660 kilometres of tracks for rapid urban transportation, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Monday.

India already has a 515-kilometre functional network of metro tracks in various cities and 15 more will soon have over 660 kilometres of tracks for rapid urban transportation, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Monday. Interacting with the members of the Consultative Committee attached to the Housing and Urban Affairs (HUA) Ministry, Puri spoke about new urban transport initiatives in India. According to a statement released by the housing and urban affairs minister, the state governments and union territories have been advised to prepare and submit the Detailed Project Report (DPR) in line with the provisions in the Metro Rail Policy 2017. "Hardeep S Puri, Minister of State (I/C) for Housing and Urban Affairs has stated that more than 664 kms of metro rail projects in 15 cities are presently under various stages of implementation, while more than 515 kms of metro line are already operational in India," the statement said. He said several new cities are now aspiring to have metro rail systems. To bring together the technology and service providers, policy makers, officials in urban transport from India and abroad, the 11th Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference is planned from November 2-4 at Nagpur, with the theme "Green Mobility" to disseminate up-to-date and best urban transport practices information to the cities, he added.

Metro network to be extended to 15 new cities: Union minister

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation's 25.6 kilometres long Janakpuri West - Kalkaji Mandir corridor will be flagged off today. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal along with Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs (Independent Charge)&nbspHardeep Singh Puri will inaugurate the Magenta Line corridor today at 4.30 pm from the Nehru Enclave Metro station.

According to reports, Puri and Kejriwal will travel to Hauz Khas after flagging-off the Metro corridor from Nehru Enclave metro station.&nbsp

Passengers will be able to use the services from May 29. The Janakpuri West - Kalkaji Mandir section includes 16 stations and is the longest metro corridor opened so far in Delhi Metro's Phase 3.

"The highlights of this corridor will be the two new interchange facilities that will come up at Janakpuri West (with the Dwarka - NOIDA/ Vaishali Blue Line) and Hauz Khas (with the HUDA City Centre - Samaypur Badli Yellow line). The domestic terminals of the Indira Gandhi International Airport will also get directly connected by the Metro. Commuters travelling from Gurugram will now be able to change trains at Hauz Khas to reach south Delhi and NOIDA. Residents of NOIDA will also get direct connectivity to the domestic terminal of the airport," the official DMRC release stated.

The section will connect Janakpuri West on DMRC's Blue Line, Yellow Line at Hauz Khas station, Violet Line at Kalkaji to reach its terminal at Botanical Garden on Blue Line.

The Metro will pass through stations including Dabri Mor, Dashrathpuri, Palam, Sadar Bazar, Terminal 1 - IGI Airport, Shankar Vihar, Vasant Vihar, Munirka, RK Puram, Hauz Khas, IIT, Panchsheel Park, Chirag Delhi, GK Enclave and Nehru Enclave.

Magenta Line now connects three different Mero lines -- Blue, Yellow and Violet

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation's 25.6 kilometres long Janakpuri West - Kalkaji Mandir corridor will be flagged off today. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal along with Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs (Independent Charge)&nbspHardeep Singh Puri will inaugurate the Magenta Line corridor today at 4.30 pm from the Nehru Enclave Metro station. According to reports, Puri and Kejriwal will travel to Hauz Khas after flagging-off the Metro corridor from Nehru Enclave metro station. Passengers will be able to use the services from May 29. The Janakpuri West - Kalkaji Mandir section includes 16 stations and is the longest metro corridor opened so far in Delhi Metro's Phase 3. "The highlights of this corridor will be the two new interchange facilities that will come up at Janakpuri West (with the Dwarka - NOIDA/ Vaishali Blue Line) and Hauz Khas (with the HUDA City Centre - Samaypur Badli Yellow line). The domestic terminals of the Indira Gandhi International Airport will also get directly connected by the Metro. Commuters travelling from Gurugram will now be able to change trains at Hauz Khas to reach south Delhi and NOIDA. Residents of NOIDA will also get direct connectivity to the domestic terminal of the airport," the official DMRC release stated. The section will connect Janakpuri West on DMRC's Blue Line, Yellow Line at Hauz Khas station, Violet Line at Kalkaji to reach its terminal at Botanical Garden on Blue Line. The Metro will pass through stations including Dabri Mor, Dashrathpuri, Palam, Sadar Bazar, Terminal 1 - IGI Airport, Shankar Vihar, Vasant Vihar, Munirka, RK Puram, Hauz Khas, IIT, Panchsheel Park, Chirag Delhi, GK Enclave and Nehru Enclave.

Magenta Line's Janakpuri West - Kalkaji Mandir Metro corridor to be flagged-off today

People across Delhi-NCR braved a dust storm accompanied by squall on Sunday afternoon. So far, four incidents of wall collapse have been reported from various parts of Delhi.

The incidents were reported from Najafgarh, Transit Camp, Nehru Place, Mohan Garden in Uttam Nagar, and Raj Nagar in Palam.

Two fire tenders each were rushed to the areas, no casualty, injury or loss of property have been reported so far.&nbsp;

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Number of flight diversions at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport due to bad weather conditions goes up to 70. <a href="https://t.co/tdETtZNMRb">pic.twitter.com/tdETtZNMRb</a>
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The storm affected flight, rail and metro operations across Delhi-NCR. As many as 70 flights were diverted and more than 24 delayed. Metro operations were also halted for as long as 45 minutes.&nbsp;

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Ghaziabad: One killed, 4 injured after a tree fell on them near Lal Kuan Shiv temple during the thunderstorm.
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The Northern Railways said the train movement was disrupted on the section between the Hazrat Nizamuddin and Palwal stations due to tree felling.

A few passenger and freight trains were held up for around 25 minutes because of the disruption. The Kalka-New Delhi Shatabdi Express was also stopped near Sonepat due to the uprooting of trees.

The weatherman forecast partly cloudy skies and a possibility of light rainfall tomorrow.&nbsp;

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1 woman dead & 1 man seriously injured after a hoarding fell on them due to heavy dust storm in Greater Noida
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The officials said two squalls whipped through the national capital. One clocking 109 kmph hit the Safdarjung area at 4:44 pm and continued till 4:46 pm. The other gusting to 96 kmph battered the Palam area at 4:33 pm.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The storm affected flight, rail and metro operations across Delhi-NCR

People across Delhi-NCR braved a dust storm accompanied by squall on Sunday afternoon. So far, four incidents of wall collapse have been reported from various parts of Delhi. The incidents were reported from Najafgarh, Transit Camp, Nehru Place, Mohan Garden in Uttam Nagar, and Raj Nagar in Palam. Two fire tenders each were rushed to the areas, no casualty, injury or loss of property have been reported so far. Number of flight diversions at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport due to bad weather conditions goes up to 70. pic.twitter.com/tdETtZNMRb — ANI (@ANI) May 13, 2018 × The storm affected flight, rail and metro operations across Delhi-NCR. As many as 70 flights were diverted and more than 24 delayed. Metro operations were also halted for as long as 45 minutes. Ghaziabad: One killed, 4 injured after a tree fell on them near Lal Kuan Shiv temple during the thunderstorm. — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) May 13, 2018 × The Northern Railways said the train movement was disrupted on the section between the Hazrat Nizamuddin and Palwal stations due to tree felling. A few passenger and freight trains were held up for around 25 minutes because of the disruption. The Kalka-New Delhi Shatabdi Express was also stopped near Sonepat due to the uprooting of trees. The weatherman forecast partly cloudy skies and a possibility of light rainfall tomorrow. 1 woman dead & 1 man seriously injured after a hoarding fell on them due to heavy dust storm in Greater Noida — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) May 13, 2018 × The officials said two squalls whipped through the national capital. One clocking 109 kmph hit the Safdarjung area at 4:44 pm and continued till 4:46 pm. The other gusting to 96 kmph battered the Palam area at 4:33 pm. (With inputs from agencies)

Delhi dust storm: Four incidents of wall collapse reported

Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Sunday took a ride in Bangalore metro, shopped for books and savoured local delicacies. Gandhi was on a two-day weekend visit to poll-bound Karnataka.

"Gandhi, accompanied by party leaders, rode the metro and later shopped for some books at a bookstore in the city centre," a party official said.

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Congress President <a href="https://twitter.com/RahulGandhi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RahulGandhi</a> takes time out for a selfie during a ride on the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NammaMetro?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NammaMetro</a> in Bengaluru. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BengaluruNammaHemme?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BengaluruNammaHemme</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JanaAashirwadaYatre?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JanaAashirwadaYatre</a> <a href="https://t.co/A6tq6msmHW">pic.twitter.com/A6tq6msmHW</a>
— Congress (@INCIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/INCIndia/status/982917404966744065?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Congress chief boarded the metro at Vidhana Soudha metro station and took a train&nbsp;to MG Road station.

Gandhi was accompanied by other senior party leaders like state unit chief G. Parameshwara, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, senior party leader Mallikarjun Kharge and state in-charge K.C.Venugopal, among others. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah bought metro tickets for all party leaders.

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CM <a href="https://twitter.com/siddaramaiah?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@siddaramaiah</a> bought & gifted books to Congress President <a href="https://twitter.com/RahulGandhi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RahulGandhi</a> at a bookstore in Church Street.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BengaluruNammaHemme?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BengaluruNammaHemme</a> <a href="https://t.co/RNC7AP5HkX">pic.twitter.com/RNC7AP5HkX</a>
— Karnataka Congress (@INCKarnataka) <a href="https://twitter.com/INCKarnataka/status/982925090844274688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2018</a></blockquote>
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After the metro-ride, Rahul Gandhi visited High Street, a recently renovated vehicle-free pedestrian plaza.

He also visited a bookstore located at Church Street and browsed through books.<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3ZkUkJHyqbc" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

CM Siddaramaiah bought and gifted books to Gandhi, that included Tamil writer Perumal Murugan's 'The Goat Thief', British author Karen Armstrong's 'A History of God', 'The Art of Living' by Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh and a book on the Japanese concept of 'Ikigai'.

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Congress President <a href="https://twitter.com/RahulGandhi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RahulGandhi</a> stops for lunch at Koshys. The staff share pictures of Former Prime Ministers Nehru ji and Indira ji dining at their establishment. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JanaAashirwadaYatre?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JanaAashirwadaYatre</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BengaluruNammaHemme?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BengaluruNammaHemme</a> <a href="https://t.co/pTMVypZQ7f">pic.twitter.com/pTMVypZQ7f</a>
— Congress (@INCIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/INCIndia/status/982924519286411264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Gandhi, along with other leaders, stopped at Koshys for a quick traditional lunch and was spotted indulging in post-lunch&nbsp;kulfis at a local joint.

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Congress President Rahul Gandhi stops by for a post-lunch kulfi in Bengaluru. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JanaAashirwadaYatre?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JanaAashirwadaYatre</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BengaluruNammaHemme?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BengaluruNammaHemme</a> <a href="https://t.co/KUZyMIGZOF">pic.twitter.com/KUZyMIGZOF</a>
— Congress (@INCIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/INCIndia/status/982932346168016896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2018</a></blockquote>
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(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

After metro-ride, Rahul Gandhi visited High Street, a recently renovated vehicle-free pedestrian plaza

Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Sunday took a ride in Bangalore metro, shopped for books and savoured local delicacies. Gandhi was on a two-day weekend visit to poll-bound Karnataka. "Gandhi, accompanied by party leaders, rode the metro and later shopped for some books at a bookstore in the city centre," a party official said. Congress President @RahulGandhi takes time out for a selfie during a ride on the #NammaMetro in Bengaluru. #BengaluruNammaHemme #JanaAashirwadaYatre pic.twitter.com/A6tq6msmHW — Congress (@INCIndia) April 8, 2018 × Congress chief boarded the metro at Vidhana Soudha metro station and took a train to MG Road station. Gandhi was accompanied by other senior party leaders like state unit chief G. Parameshwara, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, senior party leader Mallikarjun Kharge and state in-charge K.C.Venugopal, among others. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah bought metro tickets for all party leaders. CM @siddaramaiah bought & gifted books to Congress President @RahulGandhi at a bookstore in Church Street.#BengaluruNammaHemme pic.twitter.com/RNC7AP5HkX — Karnataka Congress (@INCKarnataka) April 8, 2018 × After the metro-ride, Rahul Gandhi visited High Street, a recently renovated vehicle-free pedestrian plaza. He also visited a bookstore located at Church Street and browsed through books. CM Siddaramaiah bought and gifted books to Gandhi, that included Tamil writer Perumal Murugan's 'The Goat Thief', British author Karen Armstrong's 'A History of God', 'The Art of Living' by Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh and a book on the Japanese concept of 'Ikigai'. Congress President @RahulGandhi stops for lunch at Koshys. The staff share pictures of Former Prime Ministers Nehru ji and Indira ji dining at their establishment. #JanaAashirwadaYatre #BengaluruNammaHemme pic.twitter.com/pTMVypZQ7f — Congress (@INCIndia) April 8, 2018 × Gandhi, along with other leaders, stopped at Koshys for a quick traditional lunch and was spotted indulging in post-lunch kulfis at a local joint. Congress President Rahul Gandhi stops by for a post-lunch kulfi in Bengaluru. #JanaAashirwadaYatre #BengaluruNammaHemme pic.twitter.com/KUZyMIGZOF — Congress (@INCIndia) April 8, 2018 × (With inputs from agencies)

Watch: Rahul Gandhi takes a metro ride, browses books in Bengaluru

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan today said the Kerala government will initiate further steps regarding implementation of the second phase extension of the Kochi Metro project once they get necessary clearance from the Centre.

The state had been asked to re-submit its Detailed Project Report (DPR) incorporating changes on the basis of the new Metro policy announced by the Centre, Vijayan said while replying to a submission by V P Sajeendran of the Congress.

The DPR, prepared in February this year, is under the state government&#39;s consideration, he said.

After the report is submitted to the Centre, and necessary permission is received, further steps with regard to the project will be taken, he said.

Administrative sanction for Rs 2,577.25 crore had been granted in may last year and a DPR had been submitted for the Centre&#39;s final clearance.

However, later the union government had come out with a new metro policy, he said.

Meanwhile, for the initial activities of the second phase of the project from Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium to Infopark, the state government had sanctioned Rs 189 crore and necessary administrative sanction for land acquisition had also been given, he said.

The district administration was also in the process of initiating steps for the environmental impact study.

For land acquisition, Rs 20 crore has been set apart as per September 20, 2017, government order, he said.

The district administration was also in the process of initiating steps for the environmental impact study

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan today said the Kerala government will initiate further steps regarding implementation of the second phase extension of the Kochi Metro project once they get necessary clearance from the Centre. The state had been asked to re-submit its Detailed Project Report (DPR) incorporating changes on the basis of the new Metro policy announced by the Centre, Vijayan said while replying to a submission by V P Sajeendran of the Congress. The DPR, prepared in February this year, is under the state government's consideration, he said. After the report is submitted to the Centre, and necessary permission is received, further steps with regard to the project will be taken, he said. Administrative sanction for Rs 2,577.25 crore had been granted in may last year and a DPR had been submitted for the Centre's final clearance. However, later the union government had come out with a new metro policy, he said. Meanwhile, for the initial activities of the second phase of the project from Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium to Infopark, the state government had sanctioned Rs 189 crore and necessary administrative sanction for land acquisition had also been given, he said. The district administration was also in the process of initiating steps for the environmental impact study. For land acquisition, Rs 20 crore has been set apart as per September 20, 2017, government order, he said.

Work on Kochi Metro phase II extension after Centre's nod: Kerala

A 50-year-old man committed suicide by jumping in front of a speeding train at a metro station in New Delhi on Sunday evening.

The deceased, identified as Kanwarjeet Singh, took the extreme step allegedly because of his diabetes problem.&nbsp;

The incident took place at the Janakpuri east station when a train to Noida City Centre was entering platform 1.

The man jumped in front of the train and sustained injuries. He was rushed to a nearby hospital by CISF and metro officials, but doctors pronounced him dead.

A suicide note was also recovered from him which said that he had diabetes and did not want to be a burden on his family members.

The letter further said that he was tired of dealing with diabetes and was stressed because of the illness.&nbsp;

The police are probing the incident and trying to find the actual reason behind his step.&nbsp;

Singh was a resident of Tilak Nagar area and is survived by his wife and two sons.

The incident took place at the Janakpuri east station when a train to Noida City Centre was entering platform 1

A 50-year-old man committed suicide by jumping in front of a speeding train at a metro station in New Delhi on Sunday evening. The deceased, identified as Kanwarjeet Singh, took the extreme step allegedly because of his diabetes problem. The incident took place at the Janakpuri east station when a train to Noida City Centre was entering platform 1. The man jumped in front of the train and sustained injuries. He was rushed to a nearby hospital by CISF and metro officials, but doctors pronounced him dead. A suicide note was also recovered from him which said that he had diabetes and did not want to be a burden on his family members. The letter further said that he was tired of dealing with diabetes and was stressed because of the illness. The police are probing the incident and trying to find the actual reason behind his step. Singh was a resident of Tilak Nagar area and is survived by his wife and two sons.

Tired of diabetes, man jumps in front of Delhi metro train

The new magenta line Metro which is supposed to be a &quot;Christmas gift&quot; for the people of Noida and Delhi will be <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-and-yogi-adityanath-to-flag-off-magenta-line-kejriwal-not-invited-27516" target="_blank">inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath</a>&nbsp;on 25th December.

Post-inauguration, the metro will be <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/kalkaji-mandir-botanical-garden-metro-line-opens-for-public-on-christmas-27071" target="_blank">open to the general public after 5 pm</a>.&nbsp;

The new route is expected to cut down the travel time between south Delhi and Noida by as much as 40 minutes.&nbsp;

The metro line will connect Kalkaji in south Delhi to Botanical Garden in Noida.

The new metro will have platform screen doors (PSDs) and a high-tech signalling technology for movement of trains.

&nbsp;The 12.64-km stretch between Kalkaji and Noida&rsquo;s Botanical Garden will be covered in 19 minutes.&nbsp;

The route will have nine stations which include Kalindi Kunj, Jasola Vihar, Shaheen Bagh, Okhla Vihar, Jamia Millia Islamia, Sukhdev Vihar, Okhla NSIC, Kalkaji Mandir, Botanical Garden Metro station and Okhla Birds Sanctuary.

The metro ride from Botanical Metro to Kalkaji Mandir will cost&nbsp;commuters&nbsp;Rs 30.

The new route will be a great relief for people commuting from Noida to South Delhi and vice versa.&nbsp;With the Blue and Violet lines of the metro&nbsp;interchanging at Mandi House, it would take 52 minutes between Noida and South Delhi. The new magenta line will reduce this time to just 19 minutes.&nbsp;

According to DMRC authorities, 10 trains would operate on the new line. The coaches will have LED information display, power charging capacity and colourful seats of different shades. The width of a coach is 3.2 metres which can accommodate 35-40 people extra in every coach of this line.

One of the unique features of the new route is that the metro on the<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-metros-magenta-line-to-be-inaugurated-by-modi-crashes-through-wall-on-test-run-27200" target="_blank"> magenta line will run driverless</a>. The Delhi Metro had said the trains would be fully automated, capable of running without a human in the driver&#39;s cab, but that a person would be placed in the cab for the first two to three years of operations.&nbsp;

Also, Platform screen doors (PSDs) are being used for the first time to enhance the commuter safety.

The new magenta line Metro which is supposed to be a "Christmas gift" for the people of Noida and Delhi will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath

The new magenta line Metro which is supposed to be a "Christmas gift" for the people of Noida and Delhi will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on 25th December. Post-inauguration, the metro will be open to the general public after 5 pm. The new route is expected to cut down the travel time between south Delhi and Noida by as much as 40 minutes. The metro line will connect Kalkaji in south Delhi to Botanical Garden in Noida. The new metro will have platform screen doors (PSDs) and a high-tech signalling technology for movement of trains. The 12.64-km stretch between Kalkaji and Noida’s Botanical Garden will be covered in 19 minutes. The route will have nine stations which include Kalindi Kunj, Jasola Vihar, Shaheen Bagh, Okhla Vihar, Jamia Millia Islamia, Sukhdev Vihar, Okhla NSIC, Kalkaji Mandir, Botanical Garden Metro station and Okhla Birds Sanctuary. The metro ride from Botanical Metro to Kalkaji Mandir will cost commuters Rs 30. The new route will be a great relief for people commuting from Noida to South Delhi and vice versa. With the Blue and Violet lines of the metro interchanging at Mandi House, it would take 52 minutes between Noida and South Delhi. The new magenta line will reduce this time to just 19 minutes. According to DMRC authorities, 10 trains would operate on the new line. The coaches will have LED information display, power charging capacity and colourful seats of different shades. The width of a coach is 3.2 metres which can accommodate 35-40 people extra in every coach of this line. One of the unique features of the new route is that the metro on the magenta line will run driverless. The Delhi Metro had said the trains would be fully automated, capable of running without a human in the driver's cab, but that a person would be placed in the cab for the first two to three years of operations. Also, Platform screen doors (PSDs) are being used for the first time to enhance the commuter safety.

Everything you would want to know about Delhi's driverless new Magenta line metro

Delhi Metro lost over three lakh commuters a day after a steep fare hike came into effect on October 10, an RTI query has revealed.

The metro&#39;s daily average ridership came down to 24.2 lakh in October from 27.4 lakh in September, translating to a fall of around 11 per cent.

The Blue Line, considered the metro&#39;s busiest, lost over 30 lakh commuters, according to data shared by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) in response to an RTI query by a PTI correspondent.

The 50-km corridor connects Dwarka to Noida. The metro currently has a 218-km network across Delhi-NCR.

The fall, in terms of absolute numbers, was over 19 lakh on the Yellow Line, another busy corridor which connects Gurgaon to north Delhi&#39;s Samaypur Badli, DMRC said.

Ridership on the Violet Line, which connects ITO to Faridabad, plunged by 11.9 lakh in October. The number of riders on the Red Line, from Dilshad Garden to Rithala, came down by 7.5 lakh.

Ridership has come down several notches below the numbers observed in recent years, bucking a trend of rising on the back of the launch of newer sections.

In fact, in October 2016, the metro&#39;s daily average ridership was also 27.2 lakh, despite a comparatively shorter operational route.&nbsp;On October 10, DMRC effected the fare hike, leading to a rise of around Rs 10 for nearly every distance slab. This came barely five months of another hike of up to 100 per cent.

After the first phase of the hike in May, the metro lost nearly 1.5 lakh passengers per day in June.

The Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP government has mounted a stiff opposition to the hike, leading to a confrontation with the Centre.

DMRC and Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri supported the move saying it was essential to maintain metro&#39;s financial as well as operational health.

He rejected Kejriwal&#39;s opposition, saying the Centre was in no position to disregard the recommendations of a Fare Fixation Committee which had drawn up the revised fare list.

The revised fare structure is: up to 2 km - Rs 10, 2 to 5 km - Rs 20, 5 to 12 km - Rs 30, 12 to 21 km - Rs 40, 21 to 32 km - Rs 50 and for journeys beyond 32 km - Rs 60.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Delhi Metro lost over three lakh commuters a day after a steep fare hike came into effect on October 10, an RTI query has revealed

Delhi Metro lost over three lakh commuters a day after a steep fare hike came into effect on October 10, an RTI query has revealed. The metro's daily average ridership came down to 24.2 lakh in October from 27.4 lakh in September, translating to a fall of around 11 per cent. The Blue Line, considered the metro's busiest, lost over 30 lakh commuters, according to data shared by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) in response to an RTI query by a PTI correspondent. The 50-km corridor connects Dwarka to Noida. The metro currently has a 218-km network across Delhi-NCR. The fall, in terms of absolute numbers, was over 19 lakh on the Yellow Line, another busy corridor which connects Gurgaon to north Delhi's Samaypur Badli, DMRC said. Ridership on the Violet Line, which connects ITO to Faridabad, plunged by 11.9 lakh in October. The number of riders on the Red Line, from Dilshad Garden to Rithala, came down by 7.5 lakh. Ridership has come down several notches below the numbers observed in recent years, bucking a trend of rising on the back of the launch of newer sections. In fact, in October 2016, the metro's daily average ridership was also 27.2 lakh, despite a comparatively shorter operational route. On October 10, DMRC effected the fare hike, leading to a rise of around Rs 10 for nearly every distance slab. This came barely five months of another hike of up to 100 per cent. After the first phase of the hike in May, the metro lost nearly 1.5 lakh passengers per day in June. The Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP government has mounted a stiff opposition to the hike, leading to a confrontation with the Centre. DMRC and Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri supported the move saying it was essential to maintain metro's financial as well as operational health. He rejected Kejriwal's opposition, saying the Centre was in no position to disregard the recommendations of a Fare Fixation Committee which had drawn up the revised fare list. The revised fare structure is: up to 2 km - Rs 10, 2 to 5 km - Rs 20, 5 to 12 km - Rs 30, 12 to 21 km - Rs 40, 21 to 32 km - Rs 50 and for journeys beyond 32 km - Rs 60.

Delhi Metro witnesses steep fall in commuters after fare hike

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