Delhi Metro to use new track tech on Najafgarh stretch

New Delhi: Delhi Metro is all set to install the ballastless track on an elevated and underground section of the Dwarka-Najafgarh stretch, including Najafgarh depot and a ramp to Bahadurgarh depot (Line 5) of the standard gauge corridor of the Phase-III project.

The ballastless technology facilitates movement of trains in high speed and requires much less maintenance. Most high-speed railway networks across the world use this technology.

The upcoming track will cost `10.23 crore and is likely to be completed in 2020.

Ballastless tracks are usually considered for very high speed or very high loading routes or for localised replacement where there are exceptional maintenance difficulties, like in the tunnels.

“The track structure for Phase-III will be of the highest quality. The tenders for the track execution works will also include the supply of fastening systems for ballastless tracks. The whole track on the main line and depots (where coaches are kept), including turnouts, will be jointless or welded,” said a Delhi Metro official on the condition of anonymity.

The use of the ballastless track, popularly known as slab track, may be inevitable in locations like tunnels, viaducts, station areas and busy corridors such as the suburban transit system where intermediate intervention for maintenance cannot be economically afforded.

A large number of ballastless track forms have been designed and tried all over the world to make a ballastless track form which is durable, economical, and can be used for most civil structures without many changes.

The world’s largest ballastless track system of 300 km, which is between Frankfurt and Cologne, was opened in Germany. M/s Pfleiderer AG Germany played a major role in commissioning the track.

Earlier, Delhi Metro had conducted an advanced training programme on ‘ballastless tracks’ for the professionals of the urban rail-based systems across the nation and the neighbouring countries.

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