Lok Sabha Question No. 2044 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-11
Subject: Progress and Modernisation of Metro Rail and RRTS
Ministry: HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
Asked by: Smt. Bharti Pardhi, Dr. Shrikant Eknath Shinde, Shri Ravindra Dattaram Waikar, Shri Sanatan Pandey, Shri Shrirang Appa Chandu Barne, Shri Naresh Ganpat Mhaske

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2044

## TO BE ANSWERED ON DECEMBER 11, 2025

## PROGRESS AND MODERNISATION OF METRO RAIL AND RRTS

NO. 2044:  SHRI SANATAN PANDEY:

SHRI RAVINDRA DATTARAM WAIKAR:

SHRI NARESH GANPAT MHASKE:

SHRI SHRIRANG APPA CHANDU BARNE:

SMT. BHARTI PARDHI:

DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

Will the Minister of HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to implement Public Private Partnership  (PPP)  model  in  Regional  Rapid  Transit  Systems  (RRTS) projects, if so the details thereof along with the name of corridors having participation of private investors;
- (b) the details of the impact of PPP on the pace and financial sustainability of the projects;
- (c) the total operational length of metro rail network and RRTS in the country along with the number of cities covered;
- (d) the  key  technological  advancements  incorporated  in  metro  systems, including  the  Namo  Bharat  Train  and  European  Train  Control  Signaling System;
- (e) the  details  of  smart  ticketing  initiatives  such  as  National  Common
- Mobility Card and QR-based ticketing;
- (f) whether  Unmanned  Train  Operations  (UTO)  have  been  implemented  in metro systems, if so, the details thereof; and
- (g) the  details  of  the  measures  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to enhance energy efficiency and sustainability in metro projects?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS (SHRI TOKHAN SAHU)

- (a) & (b):  At present, no Namo Bharat Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) project  is  being  fully  implemented  on  PPP  model.  However,  National Capital  Region  Transport  Corporation  (NCRTC) has informed that is has taken following initiatives for private sector participation in Delhi-Meerut Namo Bharat RRTS corridor:

- (i) Agreement  with  a  Private  operator  for  the  comprehensive  operation  & maintenance of the corridor for a period of 12 years.
- (ii) Agreement for comprehensive performance-based maintenance of trains to the manufacturer for a period of 15 years.
- (iii) Procurement  of  Automatic  Fare  Collection  system  under  PPP  Hybrid Annuity model for a period of 10 years. The above initiatives  have  facilitated  a  long-term  predictability  of  O&M obligations and better financial planning.
- (c): About  1083  Kms  of  Metro  Rail  lines  (including  55  Kms  of  Delhi-Meerut Namo  Bharat  Regional  Rapid  Transit  System)  are  operational  in  25 different cities.
- (d) to (f): A  number  of  advancements  and  technological  innovations  have taken  place  during  the  recent  years  in  various  Metro/  RRTS  systems operational in the country. Some  of the noteworthy technological advancements including smart ticketing initiatives and Unmanned Train Operations (UTO) are:
- (i) Introduction of Namo Bharat Train- India's first State of Art Namo Bharat train with design speed of 180 kmph and operational speed of 160 kmph has  been  introduced  on  priority  section  between  New  Ashok  Nagar  to Meerut South Depot on Delhi- Meerut RRTS corridor;
- (ii) European Train Control System (ETCS) - World's first State of Art ETCS level  II  with  Hybrid  level-III  radio-based  train  signalling  system  on  Long Term  Evolution  (LTE)  backbone  has  been  introduced  on  Namo  Bharat trains running between New Ashok Nagar to Meerut South Depot on DelhiMeerut RRTS corridor enhancing passenger safety to a new level;
- (iii) Platform Screen Door (PSD) - For improved safety and to reduce the risk of  accidents,  PSD  has  been  jointly  developed  by  Bharat  Electronics Limited (BEL) with National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC);
- (iv) National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) - One Nation-One card i.e. NCMC work on all NCMC enabled transport systems in the country. At present, NCMC  is functional in 11 Metro projects and 11 Bus Transport corporations. Further, PM-eBus Sewa Guidelines issued by the Ministry of Housing  and  Urban  Affairs  includes  implementation  of  NCMC  based Automatic Fare Collection System (AFCS) for bus operations in States/Cities;
- (v) QR based Ticketing - QR based ticketing system has facilitated booking of tickets from Mobile based apps;
- (vi) Unmanned Train Operations (UTO) - For improved efficiency and quality of service including better utilisation of resources, UTO is functional on Pink Line and Magenta Line of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation;

- (vii) Indigenous  Automatic  Train  Supervision  system  (i-ATS)  -  India's  first Indigenously built Automatic Train Supervision System developed by the combined efforts of DMRC and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has been implemented on Red Line of Delhi Metro.
- (g): Metro  Rail  projects  are  implemented  with  state  of  art  energy  efficient technology  including  deployment  of  rolling  stock  with  regenerative braking system. Such deployment of energy efficient systems is resulting in  huge  power  savings.  Solar  Power  panels  are  also  installed  by  Metro companies  that  help  in  reduction  of  Carbon  Dioxide  emissions.  These steps contribute significantly in making metro projects efficient, sustainable and environment friendly.

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