Delhi Metro Corporation (DMRC) is all set to issue a ? 350 cr contract to Bombardier Transportation India Ltd for providing a train control and signalling system for the 58.4km Line Seven or inner ring road line of the Delhi Metro. Line Seven, which will be built in two phases, will be a driverless, unattended signalling system, the first such one in India. The technology is expected to decrease the time lag between trains, leading to more frequent trains and better capacity. The inner ring road line is the longest stretch of the third phase of the Delhi metro project, work on which started in early 2011 and is scheduled for completion in 2016. Two links will be added along with 10 route extensions that will total 140 km at an estimated cost of ? 35,000 crore. The third phase is being funded by the Union government, the Delhi government, Japan International Cooperation Agency and from property development by DMRC. The passenger ridership is expected to rise from the current 2.25 million passengers a day to four million, excluding the airport express line.
