ITO Metro station set to open early next year

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 7

For much to the cheer of the all those whose offices are located in the busy ITO, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is all set to carry out trial runs on the Mandi House-ITO stretch by the end of this month.
And if all goes well, the Metro agency will throw open the Mandi House-ITO stations for commuters early next year. This will ease the heavy traffic in the ITO area which houses several prominent buildings like the income tax office, Delhi Police Headquarters, Delhi Secretariat, PWD Headquarters, and several media houses.
"We are planning trial runs by the end of this month and if they are successful, the stretch will be officially opened next year," said a DMRC official.
Noting that the details are yet to be finalised and the stretch is expected to be operational early next year, he said the trial runs will be gauged on several aspects with the safety parameters being the top priority.
In this regard, the Delhi Metro will have to obtain the mandatory safety clearance from the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety.
Once operational, close to 22,000 passengers are expected to use the station daily and the number is likely to rise to 31,000, going by the detailed project report of the DMRC. As per the DMRC, the civil work is over for the ITO station while a pedestrian subway through the station, which connects Delhi Police Headquarters to The Institution of Engineers (India) building, was already opened for public in August.