Friday, December 30 2005 13:43 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Giving a New Year's gift to Delhiites, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (Dec 30,2005) inaugurated Line 3 of Delhi Metro, marking completion of Phase I of the modern mass transport system which now has a coverage of over 56 km in the capital.

The Prime Minister pulled a lever and flagged off the first train on the 22.8 km long Barakhamba-Dwarka stretch amidst cheers at the Rajiv Chowk Station in Central Park in the heart of the city.

Earlier, Singh, along with other special guests on the occasion, including Urban Development Minister S Jaipal Reddy, Lt Governor B L Joshi and Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, took a ride on the Metro train from Rajiv Chowk to Barakhamba station and back.

"I wish the citizens of Delhi a Happy New Year. This Metro is a good New Year's Gift and I hope it cheers our citizens," the Prime Minister said on the occasion.

He described the new addition to the Metro network as 'one more feather in Delhi's proud cap', also noting that it had become a symbol of a really 'New' Delhi.

The Prime Minister said he was truly impressed by the quality of the new infrastructure in the Metro and pointed out that the entire investigation, planning, design and execution on this line had been done with indigenous expertise.

"They have set an example for all of us to follow that India can do it, that Indians are equal to the best, howsoever difficult the task," he said.

Referring to the interest shown by other cities in having a similar Metro network, Singh said, "I am sure the citizens of other cities like Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Kochi are looking forward to this kind of facility. I am sure DMRC's expertise will be of use while planning metros in these cities."

But he also urged other cities to evolve their own technically and economically feasible solution, adding the Central Government would encourage and promote all proven technologies that are considered techno-economically suitable and relevant for Indian conditions including rail, bus and other means of transport.

Singh said the Government had launched the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission with the aim of making the urgently needed investment in world class public infrastructure, including a good, reliable and affordable public transport, in India's cities.

"We need to invest in public transport, in roads with space for bicycles and pedestrians, in sanitation, in public parks, airports, railway stations and many other amenities," he said.

"In the absence of a good, reliable and affordable public transport, private vehicles would dominate the roads, leading to congestion, pollution, more accidents and more fuel consumption," he said.

"We cannot force people to become dependent on costly private transportation. This will not only increase energy consumption and discriminate against those who cannot afford private transport," Singh added.