Metro to have improved air-conditioning to beat summer heat

With the city in the grip of a heat wave, the Delhi Metro is equipping its new trains with improved air-conditioning system.

New Delhi: With the city in the grip of a
heat wave, the Delhi Metro is equipping its new trains with
improved air-conditioning system that can maintain 25 degree
Celsius temperature inside the cars even when the mercury goes
over 48 degree-mark outside.

"In view of the high temperatures in Delhi, the Metro AC
units have been designed to function even upto an outside
ambient temperature level ranging from 48 degree C to 58
degree C for long durations," a DMRC spokesman said.

Besides, the air conditioning system at the underground
Metro stations will maintain a 27 degree C ambient
temperature, the official said.

The mercury has been shooting up since last week and on
May 13 it touched 44.4 degree Celsius, breaking a four-year
record in the month of May. The next two days saw the maximum
settling at 43.2 C and 43.3 C respectively.

The Delhi Metro Rail system, which currently covers
around 110 kms, has seen its ridership further rise since the
start of the heat wave as more passengers are relying on the
new age transport system which is fully air-conditioned.

On April 22, when the temperature was well above the
40-degree mark, a record 10.90 lakh people travelled by the
Delhi Metro, which is now adding a train every 15 days to its
fleet of over 100 trains.

"The new trains being supplied by M/s Bombardier and M/s
MRM Consortium have two roof mounted package AC units of a
capacity of 52 kilo watts (14.8 tonnes approx.) each. Ducting
is being done in such a manner that uniform temperature is
maintained inside each rake including the vestibule and
gangway interconnecting two coaches," the official said.

The AC units are computer-controlled and in case of any
defect or malfunctioning in any one unit, it will be possible
for other AC unit to provide backup flow of cold air for the
comfort of Metro passengers.

The Metro train operators will be able to maintain the
temperature levels in the coach and can adjust the temperature
depending upon requirement. The AC units are equipped with
self-diagnostic software to detect any fault in the system.

As a precaution, the AC units of each Metro train are
checked on a daily basis before the trains leave the
maintenance depot.

PTI

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