ITO Metro station thrown open to public

Trains will be available at ITO at a frequency of seven and a half minutes during peak hours

The centrally located ITO station made its debut in the expanding network of Delhi Metro on Monday as the first Badarpur-bound train, full to the brim, left its swanky premises at sharp 6 PM.

The formal opening of the station was a long time coming for hundreds, who throng the area housing several prominent government and private establishments everyday. Union Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu flagged off the first train in the presence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Kejriwal, who is at loggerheads with the Centre over a number of issues, used the occasion to make a political point on federal relations. "Delhi Metro is a unique experiment of the collaboration between the state and the centre. I feel if all the governments work together in this manner only then development would be possible," he said.

Naidu laid stress on the importance of a robust public transport system and termed Delhi Metro as the "pride of the nation". "Public transport is the only answer to growing air pollution."

According to the initial time table, trains will be available at ITO at a frequency of seven and a half minutes during peak hours. The station in the Violet Line, is expected to take traffic load off the busy ITO intersection, used by over 175,000 vehicles everyday.

"All these years I had to take the bus from Saket to INA and then bus to get to office. It used to be so troublesome especially during times of inclement weather. I look forward to relief now," said Maninder Singh, a UGC employee.

The single-line extension from Mandi House till ITO is a first in the history of Delhi Metro, which was also behind the delay, as it was not permitted as per Metro Railway General Rules. Construction work was completed by January itself.

Later, the Urban Development Ministry amended and notified changes to the Metro Railway General Rules, 2013, to allow operations on single-line sections, paving the way for CMRS inspection and its eventual launch.