A 1969 study found that Delhi had more motor vehicles than Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai, necessitating policies to discourage private transport when traffic exceeded 20,000 people per hour. In 1984, proposals were made for Delhi's first metro system consisting of three underground lines and improvements to existing rail and road networks. However, Kolkata's initial 16.5 km metro line in 1984 did not inspire confidence in the Indian government to promote metros in other cities. Mass transit systems are expensive and take a long time to implement, but are needed in growing cities to keep up with population increases. Indian Railways later reviewed plans for a better integrated metro system for Delhi consisting of 36 km of underground lines and 96 km of

2. •A TRAFFIC AND TRAVEL CHARACTERISTICS STUDY CONDUCTED IN THE
CITY IN 1969 CONCLUDED THAT THE CITY HAD MOTOR VEHICLES
MORE THAN MUMBAI , CALCUTTA AND CHENNAI
•This necessitates a pragmatic policy shift to discourage private
modes and encourage public transport once the level of traffic
along any travel corridor in one direction exceeds 20,000 persons
per hour.

3. •In 1984, the Delhi Development Authority and the Urban Arts
Commission came up with a proposal for developing a multi-modal
transport system, which would consist of constructing three
underground mass rapid transit corridors as well augmenting the
city's existing suburban railway and road transport networks
•KOLKATA OPENED ITS FIRST EVER METRO LINE IN 1984(16.5 KM) BUT
THE PROJECT DID NOT INSIPRE CONFIDENCE IN THE INIDIAN GOVERNMENT
TO FURTHER PROMOTE THE PROJECT IN DIFFERENT CITIES.
•Introduction of a rail based (MRTS) Mass Rapid Transit System is
called for. Mass Rapid Transit Systems are capital intensive and have
long gestation period. It has been observed that in developed
countries, planning for mass transit system starts when city population
size exceeds 1 million; the system is in position by the time the city
population is 2 to 3 million and once the population exceeds 4
million or so, planned extensions to the Mass Rapid Transit Systems is
vigorously taken up..

4. •In developing countries including India, because of paucity of
funds planning and implementation of rail based Mass Rapid
Transit Systems has been lagging far behind the requirements
•Indian Railways, has reviewed the above schemes. MTT sought for
some modifications to recommendations of CRRI and planned for a
well knit Mass Rapid Transit System for the capital city of India.
•. The system comprised of 36 Km of underground corridors
aligned two axes North-South and East-West Corridors and 96 Kms
of surface rail corridors.