A ride on a Delhi Metro train is likely to become more comfortable with DMRC planning to roll out 83 broad gauge trains, which will be more faster than the present ones, by 2011 at a cost of Rs 2,984 crore.
Some of the facilities of the new trains are a high capacity air-conditioning system, heat and humidity control system, sockets for charging mobile phones and laptops and CCTVs to keep a watch on passengers' misconduct.
The first train of this bunch is likely to hit the tracks in the first week of October with the Commissioner of Railway Safety giving the nod for starting the services.
The process for procuring 424 coaches from German-based Bombardier is on and officials would assemble 37 four-car and 46 six-car trains, which will be used to run services on the Dwarka-Anand Vihar and Dwarka-Noida and Jehangirpuri-Shashank Lok Line.
"The first broad gauge train is likely to roll out in the first week of next month. The trains are designed keeping in mind passengers' comfort," H S Anand, Director of Metro's Rolling Stock Department told reporters here.
Thirty-six coaches will be built in Germany's Gorlitz while the rest will be made in Gujarat's Savli, he said.
Detailing on the specialities, Anand said the maximum operational speed of the new trains will be 85 km per hour while the existing ones can increase the speed up to 80 km per hour.
The new air-conditioning system, which has a higher capacity, can maintain a temperature of 25 degree Celsius inside the train when fully loaded, at a time the outside temperature will be 44 degree Celsius.
The Metro will install heating and humidity control systems in the new trains which is non-existent in the existing ones.
"During winter season, there will be a heating facility available in the train while during monsoon, a humidity control system will be used to increase or decrease the humidity levels," Anand said.
The trains running towards Anand Vihar and Noida from Dwarka will have external side display on each coach indicating the destination station.
"Alternate trains from Dwarka will be going to Anand Vihar and Noida. Passengers may have confusion about which train is headed to their destination. So to avoid confusion, all the coaches will have an external display," Anand said.
A digital route map will also be installed near the doors of all the coaches to indicate the approaching stations besides the audio warning system.
With increasing incidents of passengers ringing the alarm bells unnecessarily, four each CCTVs will be installed in coaches to find out those involved in such acts.
"We can have the recording for eight hours. Even people misbehaving with women can be caught. There will be an eye on you when you travel on the Metro," a DMRC official said.
