News: Metro power for India

(PTI 22/03/2006) New Delhi - The metro rail is set to become a reality for the residents of Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kochi and Bangalore, with construction on the modern transport system in these cities set to start in 2006-07.

"Delhi metro has completed survey in these cities and construction will start in the coming financial year," said Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) managing director E Sreedharan.

The DMRC chief, who was making a presentation of Delhi's experience with metro rail at the conference on alternative technologies in public transport, said there was an urgent need for a national policy on metro and its funding, with the transport system set to go to more cities in India.

Meanwhile, on the performance of Delhi metro, he said the rail system in the capital that was earning operational profits and would be able to not only meet its expenditure but also pay back its loans.