It’s estimated that two million people will use the Delhi metro every day. Careful planning is ensuring that riders move in and out of the stations smoothly.
In the late 1990s, the need for an efficient and reliable metro system in Delhi, India’s second largest metropolis, was long overdue. One of the world’s fastest growing urban centers, Delhi had become a commuter’s nightmare for over 12 million residents. To relieve the congestion, work on the construction of the Delhi metro began in 1995.
With a population expected to reach 20 million by 2015, the task of building a rapid transit system capable of transporting significant amounts of people daily was destined to be a highly complex project.
Fortunately for the city’s residents, the first phase of the Delhi metro was completed in 2002. Commuter trips were immediately shortened by an average of 75 percent. The second phase of the Delhi metro has been under construction since 2005. Seventy new stations will be added to the existing 60 already in operation when construction is finished in 2010. This is also the year that the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMCR), the authority that runs the rail line, expects average ridership figures to break the two-million riders-per-day milestone.
Providing a complete package
For the second phase of the project, the DMRC selected KONE to provide all elevator and escalator solutions. KONE is providing a complete package that includes detailed people flow planning and a 24/7 maintenance service agreement to ensure that the equipment runs smoothly at all times. Additionally, 370 KONE elevators and 71 KONE escalators will play a vital part in transporting passengers from the station’s entrance all the way down (or up) to the metro platforms everyday.
Once the second phase is completed, all KONE equipment will be linked to a new centralized monitoring system called KONE E-Link™, which will enable remote monitoring of the system, real-time status updates, as well as traffic calculations that can be used for analysis and planning purposes. These important calculations will help the DMRC understand how to manage the people flow at its stations, making travel more efficient for passengers.
Bhupesh Mahajan, KONE’s project manager for the Delhi metro project, believes the Delhi metro venture is more than a once in a lifetime project, it is a significant infrastructure development that has made a big difference in people’s day-to-day lives.
“The project to construct one of the world’s most modern metro systems in a metropolis like Delhi has been really exciting and gratifying,” explains Mehta. “When the first phase was completed and average commuter times were reduced by 75 percent, it meant that instead of leaving home at seven in the morning and returning at seven at night, people could spend more time with their families. We expect the second phase to have just as big of an impact, for an even larger number of people.”
Choosing the right partner
According to Mahajan, the decision to choose KONE for the second phase of the Delhi metro came down to DMRC’s wish to work with a flexible and efficient industry leader. “The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation wanted to work with a partner who could deliver to spec – on time and within budget,” he says.
In March 2009, KONE researchers conducted a three-day people flow case study on the Delhi Metro. By observing the flow of people inside stations, conducting numerous passenger interviews and taking pictures as well as videos, the researchers were able to gather important information on passenger behavior.
Mahajan also believes KONE’s understanding of people flow also provided significant extra added-value for the customer. “Our team of people flow experts, which helped plan the use of KONE’s transportation solutions in the metro stations, also played a huge part in receiving the order. Our expertise made it possible for the contractor to maximize the use of the purchased equipment. This ensures a smooth flow of people inside the Delhi metro’s various stations, which is critical when you consider that over two million passengers will use the metro every day.
“We are proud of our people flow expertise credentials because we have seen the extra value it brings to our customers in a project. That can make a world of a difference, especially when a project affects millions of people,” he emphasizes.