DMRC chief reviews operational issues

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 19

In the light of recent spate of snags in the Delhi Metro, DMRC chief Mangu Singh issued a series of directions to address the recurring problems. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is going to take a host of additional initiatives to improve the services on all its corridors.

This came after Singh reviewed the operational issues of the over 200-km-long network and identified the trouble spots, mainly pertaining to signalling and power supply.

Automatic Train Control (ATC) cards, which is a speed control mechanism on board trains involving a speed control mechanism in response to external inputs, and Train Interface Computer (TIC) cards, failures of which resulted in service disruption, are being replaced.

“The module failing the card has been identified and spare modules are being procured. The module will be replaced on all cards as a preventive measure. On certain other sections, disruptions have also been noticed due to the failure of onboard hardware (Train Interface Computer (TIC) Cards). The TIC Cards which have high intermittent failures will be replaced within the next six months,” read a statement issued by the DMRC.

DMRC MD also discussed Track Circuits which are electrical devices used to detect the absence of a train on tracks and inform signallers.

“To arrest the frequent cases of theft of copper made S Bond cables, steel made S Bond cables have been installed at all theft prone areas of the network. High reliability Relay Boards are being provided in the Track Circuit system for greater efficiency. The Relay Boards at NOIDA City Centre, Vaishali and Dwarka Sector 21 have already been replaced while the same is going to be done at Dwarka and Yamuna Bank,” said the DMRC.

Copper cables of the system have been replaced with that of steel to prevent theft in certain areas of the network while Relay Boards, that open or close an electrical circuit, are being replaced in many stations.

“Axle Counters, which can detect the entry and exit of trains from a certain location and can certify whether the section is clear for a second train or not, are likely to be installed at all originating points on Blue Line to minimise disturbances,” added the DMRC.