PM approves panel to lay down standards for metro rails

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday gave his nod to set up a committee to lay down standards for metro rail systems in the country.

The committee will be headed by E Sreedharan, also known as the "Metro Man", official sources said.

A retired Indian Engineering Service (IES) officer, Sreedharan has also served as the managing director of Delhi Metro from 1995 to 2012.

The panel will recommend government on adopting the standardisation in entire metro rail system including track, signalling, and rolling stock. According to the government, adopting the proper standard in the building the rail system would also help to promote Make In India as the government can attract investors in the sector.

Earlier, in the day inaugurating Delhi Metro’s Mundka-Bahadurgarh section, the PM said "Our government brought out a policy relating to metros. This is because we felt aspects relating to metro systems need greater coherence and work as per a basic set of standards."

He also said that the government wanted to boost 'Make in India' initiative by making metro coaches in the country.