PM Narendra Modi launches India's first fully automated metro train

New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (December 28) inaugurated India's first fully automated metro train, also known as driverless metro. On the occasion, he said that this is a proof how India is absorbing the technological advancements.

Speaking at the occasion, PM Modi said that three years back he had inaugurated the Magenta Line and now he is lucky to launch the driverless train on the same line. The first train was given green signal from Jasola Vihar-Shaheen Bagh Metro station.

He also launched National Common Mobility Card on Airport Express Line via video conferencing. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal was also present at the event.

Mentioning more about 'one nation, one mobility' card, he said metro commuters are aware about the suffering they have to face when multiple tickets are to be purchased; with the card their problem will be solved.

Talking about how the metro train project was started by former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, he also stressed on how BJP implemented the idea and now how the lives of passengers have become easy.

"First metro in the country was started with the efforts of Atal Ji. When our govt was formed in 2014, only 5 cities had metro services & today 18 cities have metro rail service. By 2025, we will take this service to more than 25 cities," said PM Modi.

He also spoke about how metro trains play a key role in decreasing the pollution as it helps in reducing the vehicular movement on roads. PM Modi also talked about 'out of the box' ideas, for instance he mentioned that work is being done on the water metros in places which have big waterbodies.

"'Make In India' is very important for the expansion of metro services. It reduces cost, savings foreign currency and provides more employment to Indian people," PM Narendra Modi added.