Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has announced that metro services will commence at 4 AM on Independence Day, August 15, to accommodate the large number of people expected to attend the ceremony at the historic Red Fort. This early start is two hours ahead of the regular schedule.
On Thursday, the early morning trains will operate at a frequency of 15 minutes until 6 AM across all metro lines. After 6 AM, services will resume their regular schedule for the remainder of the day.
Typically, the Delhi Metro runs from 5 AM to 11:30 PM, though timings may vary slightly depending on the line and station.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to deliver his 11th consecutive Independence Day address from the ramparts of the Red Fort at 7:30 AM.
In addition to the early train services, DMRC has also announced special arrangements for passengers holding government-issued invitation cards for the Independence Day ceremony. These passengers can travel by showing their invitation cards along with a valid photo ID. However, this facility is limited to entry and exit at three stations: Lal Quila, Jama Masjid, and Chandni Chowk, which are the closest to the event venue.
“Passengers with a bonafide invitation card issued by the Ministry of Defence will be allowed to enter and travel on the metro by presenting a valid government-issued photo ID. This arrangement will only allow exit at Lal Quila, Jama Masjid, and Chandni Chowk stations. The same cards will also be valid for the return journey from these three stations only,” DMRC stated.
To ensure a smooth experience, regular announcements will be made inside the trains to inform passengers about these special arrangements. The Ministry of Defence will reimburse the DMRC for the travel costs incurred by passengers with invitation cards.
