Delhi Metro’s Phase I saves passenger time, cut fuel costs, reduces capital and operating costs of vehicles, reduces environmental damage, prevents accidents and reduces maintenance cost on infrastructure, says the study conducted by the Central Road Research Institute.

The Metro also saves nearly 66 minutes in the average day of a commuter, which amounts to Rs 725 crore saved from 2002 to 2007, in terms of their earning capacity in that time span.

The study was conducted in May 2007 by a team from CRRI headed by Dr Mukhopadhyay and Neeraj Sharma.

In terms of road traffic conditions, the study notes: “since the Metro began operations, there has been a progressive reduction in daily vehicle demand,” as commuters prefer using the Metro.

“Till 2007, the Metro has taken the share of 40,000 vehicles of all other modes of travel, such as cars, buses, two-wheelers, autorickshaws, among others.”

The study also found the air quality inside Metro trains better than in other modes of transport, including cars. The reduction in the number of vehicles has further prevented 28,800 tonne of carbon dioxide being released in the air every year. “If the 9,876 trees cut for construction of Phase I were left intact, they could have absorbed only about 220 tonne of carbon dioxide every year,” the study says.

Counting benefits
Lives saved due to reduced

vehicles on road: 476

Fuel consumption saved (petrol diesel and CNG): 57,858 tonne

Reduction of CO2 levels in air: 28,800 tonne