The country’s first standard gauge depot at Mundka here is all equipped to wash, inspect and maintain the Delhi Metro’s first set of standard gauge trains that will soon roll out once the Inderlok-Mundka line becomes operational in March.
Spread over 10.83 hectares, the depot at Mundka has a capacity to house 90 coaches. “It will cater to all inspection, maintenance, washing and administrative functioning of Inderlok-Mundka line of the Delhi Metro, which will be the first Railway line in India on standard gauge,” said a DMRC official.
At present, 17 standard gauge trains of four coaches each have already arrived in the depot and more are expected shortly. “We are also thinking of constructing two towers spread over 32,000 sq m for property development. Later on we will also have parking slots on two levels at the depot for commercial use,” the official said.
Constructed in 18 months and at a cost of nearly Rs.150 crore plus another Rs.30-35 crore for equipment, the depot will have a parking space for 1,000 cars.
The workshop-cum-depot will offer spaces for workshop facilities, inspection shed, stabling sheds, automatic train washing plant and interior cleaning facilities.
“The depot has 16 stabling tracks, three inspection tracks, four tracks in the workshop area while one track leads to automatic washing plant. One test track of 550 metres has also been laid for training train operators,” said the official.
The highlight of the depot is the automatic train washing plant that has been designed to wash the exterior of the trains in a drive-through model and operated in a single direction.
“The plant is designed for satisfactorily cleaning of train running through it under its own power at a speed not more than 2-5 km/h. The washing plant is designed for both automatic and manual mode. The washing brushes fit automatically to the train shape. This train movement is monitored through limit switches, ultrasonic devices and photo electric cells to complete the entire wash cycle. It will take about 4-5 minutes for complete washing of 8 coach train,” the official explained.
While 1,700 litres of water (1,500 litres of treated water and 200 litres of RO water) will be required to washing about four cars, the last %rinse will be done using RO water.
“RO water is necessary because ordinary water contains salts and metals that leave a stain on the exterior and therefore will need more cleaning. So we use about treated water for the final cleaning,” an official said.
“The plants are all equipped with a high level depurative system to reduce water usage and its consumption. The entire plant’s health can be monitored through Wi-Fi system from the depot manager’s office and the depot control centre. All data are transmitted by a Wi-Fi system to a control room located at a distance from the plant,” he added.
The depot also has other utility buildings like offices, canteen, stores building, depot control centre, permanent way (track) office building along with facilities for water supply and treatment, drainage and effluent treatment.
