DMRC Reiterates Plans to Provide Wi-Fi Facility on Trains and Stations

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) plans to provide Wi-Fi facility aboard its trains as well as in stations, union Minister of State for Urban Development Babul Supriyo said on Wednesday.

"The DMRC has informed the ministry that it has planned to provide Wi-Fi facility in metro trains," he said in reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.

"Stations on the new line like Mukundpur-Shiv Vihar line and Janakpuri West-Kalindi Kunj line... will also be covered under this facility," he said.

The minister said the DMRC had invited proposals from mobile operators in connection with providing Wi-Fi facility.

"The DMRC has floated a tender to explore the possibility of providing Wi-Fi facility for their existing metro rail network. The tender envisages total investment and operational expenditure by the Wi-Fi system provider," he said.

DMRC had early last month submitted a 'Request For Proposals' from mobile operators to install Wi-Fi hotspots at stations and trains in this regard.

The move was then said to be aimed at providing a tech edge to the rapidly expanding network, which currently stands at around 193km, and the burgeoning smartphone users.

"This was a long standing demand of the commuters. We have asked mobile operators to submit their proposals and will check feasibility and other parameters after that," an official said.

The deadline for the companies has been set around the end of May, the official had added.

Recently, the DMRC had launched a unique initiative through which Android users could earn reward points which can be later redeemed to recharge their metro smart cards.

Written with agency inputs