President Patil experiences maiden Metro ride

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President Pratibha Devisingh Patil experienced the most preferred mode of public travel when she undertook her maiden Delhi Metro ride on Sunday.

President Patil, who was accompanied by senior Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and Rashtrapati Bhavan officials, boarded a special four-coach train at the Udyog Bhawan metro station a little after 10: 30 a.m. and went up to Sultanpur in South Delhi and returned from there.

The DMRC, which has so far hosted a number of important dignitaries on the mass rapid transport system, showcased the facilities and technologies being undertaken in the system.

President Patil, who was shown an exhibition on Metro's history and other statistics during her special trip, later signed the visitors' book at the Udyog Bhawan metro station.

Delhi Police and the CRPF personnel made elaborate security arrangements during President Patil's trip.

The DMRC had also made proper arrangements to ensure that the daily commuters did not have to suffer during the President's trip.

Delhi Metro is a world-class metro. To ensure reliability and safety in train operations, it is equipped with the most modern communication and train control system. It has state-of-art air-conditioned coaches.

Ticketing and passenger control are through Automatic Fare Collection System, which is introduced in the country for the first time. Travelling in Delhi Metro is a pleasure with trains ultimately available at three minutes requency.

Unique feature of Delhi Metro is its integration with other modes of public transport, enabling the commuters to conveniently interchange from one mode to another. To increase ridership of Delhi Metro, feeder buses for metro stations are operating.