PM Narendra Modi to flag off first driverless train on December 28; launch NCMC for Airport Line

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate India's first-ever driverless train operations in Delhi Metro on December 28.

The driverless trains will be fully automated, which will eliminate the possibility of human error. After the first driverless services on the Magenta Line (Janakpuri West-Botanical Garden), the Pink Line (Majlis Park-Shiv Vihar) of Delhi Metro is expected to have driverless operations by mid-2021 said a statement from the Prime Minister Office.

The PM will also launch a fully operational National Common Mobility Card service on the Airport Express Line on December 28 via video conferencing.

The National Common Mobility Card, which will be fully operationalised on the Airport Express Line, will enable anyone carrying a RuPay-Debit Card issued from any part of the country to travel on the route using it.

This facility will become available on the entire Delhi Metro network by 2022, the PMO said.

Kisan Rail

The PM will flag off the 100th "Kisan Rail" from Sangola in Maharashtra to Shalimar in West Bengal on December 28 via video-conferencing.

The multi-commodity train service will carry vegetables such as cauliflower, capsicum, cabbage, drumstick, chili, and onion as well as fruits like grape, orange, pomegranate, banana, and custard apple, the statement said.

It may be noted that the first Kisan Rail was introduced from Devlali to Danapur on August 7, which was further extended up to Muzaffarpur.

As a result of a good response from farmers, its frequency was increased from a weekly service to three days in a week, the PMO added.

The launch of the train by Modi comes amid protests by a section of farmers against three farm laws near Delhi's borders.