Encouraged by the success of rail-based mass rapid transit system in big Indian cities, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has now come up with a plan to build light urban rail transit systems, or ‘Metrolites‘, in small cities and towns across the country.
The standard specifications of the system, which has been proposed to be built on the surface and elevated stretches with a carrying capacity of 300 passengers, were issued by the ministry recently.
According to the ministry, the urban rail transit system with three coaches may act as a feeder system to high capacity Metro. Even as the maximum operational speed of the Metrolite has been fixed by the ministry at 60 km/hr, the actual speed will be restricted to 25 km/hr.
Apart from shelter platforms, the Metrolite system will also have platform screen doors, AFC gates, and baggage scanners to ensure security.
The ministry has also specified the maximum space to be used on roads for piers, floor height of coaches and the structure material to be used for building the cars for the rail transit system.
