Planning for a Mass Transit System for

Delhi
Most developed country usually started to plan for mass transit system when population exceed 1
million and with Delhi its population hovering around 3.5 million mark in 1970 so the transportation
system had become critical. CRRI first recommended for a mass transit system for Delhi in 1969-70
comprising different models for a transit system over 1970-90.

When the GNTCD commissioned a feasibility study, it went through several revisions during 1990-95
and in the meantime Delhis population went on a mark of 9.5 million to 11.17 million in 1995 with
increase in a number of motor vehicles around 1.8 million to 2.4 million in 1994-95, However there
seen a decline in relative share of taxis and 3-wheeler transportation although the bus
transportation had remained same and number of buses had decreased. Population projection of 20
million in 2015 is also reflecting the ill equipped transit system to serve the need of population.
Metro system would be able to take 2.2 million commuter trips per day off the roads, reducing the
bus requirement by almost 2,600 thus freeing up space for city traffic to flow faster. DMRC gets
clearance from cabinet and incorporated on May 3, 1995 to turn the vision of a mass transit system
for Delhi into an operational reality.

DMRC: INCEPTION
It was estimated that construction of Phase 1 of metro would cost around 105.7 billion INR and for
that above 60% of the required fund was in the form of loan by JBIC in March 1997. However the
DMRC was failed to find a right person to head the project and after some months JBIC issued
ultimatum to GoI that if they failed to complete the project by October 1997, they would withdraw
the loan. Mr. Sreedharan who was a part of the search committee and members of the committee
requested them to travel to Delhi to address the situation but for their surprise they been offered a
position of MD to head this particular project. Initially he denied the offer as he was heading Konkan
Railway Project at the same time and that was in the final phase of completion and other reason was
he soon going to turn 65, the official retirement age for government officials however that taken
care of by the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. Mr. Sreedharan has accepted the position with 3
demands of having full power and control over the project decisions without any political and
government interventions. He took over as MD of DMRC in November 1997. Being a railway man,
Mr. Sreedharan had brought men of railways on whom he had trust on. By 2009, DMRC was an
approximately 5,000 employees strong organization, housed in an impressive eight story building of
its own which earlier didnt have such any, the Metro Bhavan.