Commuters in Gurgaon relieved at Rapid Metros' successful trial run

03 October, 2012

With a successful trial run, Rapid Metro has confirmed that its commercial operation will take off from March next year. The news of the successful run was more important to commuters than the metro management, because this would relieve the former from daily inconvenience of travelling in overcrowded auto rickshaws.

ON THE eve of Gandhi Jayanti, Harayana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda flagged the trial run of the first phase of the Rapid Metro in Gurgaon and also laid foundation for the second phase. While first phase will connect places like Sikanderpur, DLF Phase II, Belvedere Towers, Gateway Tower, Moulsari Avenue and DLF Phase III will be connected, phase two of rapid metro will extend its reach to sector 56 through another six major stations in route.

Rapid Metro Managing Director Sanjiv Rai said after the extension is ready, on an average, 60,000 vehicles will be reduced from the roads, according to Indian Express.

With the successful trial run on Tuesday it has been confirmed that Rapid Metro will start its commercial operations by March 2013. Phase 1 of the Rapid Metro is connected with the Delhi Metro's Sikanderpur Metro station, which will help people coming from Delhi to travel further in the city without using overcrowded auto rickshaws. Fairs of Rapid metro will be same as Delhi Metro and commuters don't have to buy separate ticket coupons to travel on Rapid metro.

Hooda, on the occasion said that Haryana Urban Development Authority will be a partner in the construction of the corridor. He also promised to improve public transport facilities in the city with the introduction of pod taxis which will connect DLF city with the old Gurgaon. This will help commuters travelling from metro to old Gurgaon, Udhyog Vihar, Palam Vihar etc. With this facility in place, commuters won't need to change tempos twice or thrice to reach their offices.

Sudhir Krishna, secretary of Urban Development Ministry, said that Metro facilities should also be planned for those areas which are likely to be developed in the near future. He also spoke about the need for more feeder bus services in these areas.

As per Sanjiv Rai, managing director of Rapid Metro, extension would be ready by 2015, and on an average, 60,000 vehicles will be reduced from the roads of the city, bringing peace to the local travellers.