New Delhi: The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Wednesday urged people to avoid flying kites near elevated Metro lines ahead of Independence Day, warning that kite strings coming in contact with high-voltage overhead wires could disrupt services and pose a serious safety risk.
The Delhi Metro network, which spans around 416 km across Delhi-NCR, is predominantly elevated and uses 25,000-volt overhead equipment (OHE) wires to power trains.
With kite flying expected to increase around August 15, the DMRC said kite strings could get entangled with the OHE wires or become stuck in the pantograph of a moving train, potentially damaging the equipment and disrupting Metro services.
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The civic transport agency also cautioned people against using metallic or metal-coated manjha, saying direct or indirect contact with the 25,000-volt OHE could prove fatal.
The DMRC appealed to people living near elevated Metro corridors to refrain from flying kites in their vicinity and instead use open spaces away from Metro lines.
The corporation said it has deployed dedicated teams near stations identified as prone to kite-related incidents to promptly remove kite strings whenever they are spotted.
Train operators and station staff have also been advised to remain particularly vigilant and look out for kite strings during the period, according to the corporation.
The DMRC said the measures are aimed at ensuring the safety of passengers and preventing disruptions to Metro services during the festive period.
