Thieves have mugged the Delhi Metro of as much as Rs 2 crore in the past three months by stealing power cables from the newly-opened Magenta Line section that runs between Noida’s Botanical Garden and South Delhi’s Kalkaji Mandir metro stations.
As per a report from Hindustan Times, the state-owned public transport provider lost around 3,750 metres of cable in at least 15 cases of power cable theft.
The Delhi Police has not made any arrests in the matter though FIRs have been registered.
As per Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), 25kv/33kv cables have been stolen from the many locations including Okhla Vihar to Jasola Vihar stretch, Jasola Vihar to Kalindi Kunj stretch and Okhla Vihar to Jamia Nagar stretch. There have also been reports of theft from even the Kalindi Kunj depot.
The thefts took place at night when Metro services are terminated, moreover, these sections are elevated where CCTV cameras have not been installed.
DCP, Metro, Pankaj Singh said in the report that they are investigating the matter.
The cables supply power to stations and the depot.
Despite the thefts, the Metro services have not been disrupted as the DMRC took precaution and laid the cables in two separate circuits that enabled them to have a backup option.
Further, the thieves were misusing the automatic power cut-off mechanism that was put in place to prevent electrocution.
“If such thefts are not curbed and the second tier of cables is stolen, it may severely affect services,” said a DMRC official quoted in the report.
DMRC is now planning to raise the fence heights and exploring installing CCTVs at theft-prone areas.