According to E Sreedharan, managing director of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, the novel information service is being offered as a part of Google Transit services.

As for mobile devices, the services will be provided as a part of Google Maps for Mobile, which lets commuters check the latest updates to make route changes “on-the-go,” Sreedharan said.

He explained that the Delhi Metro, in keeping with its vision for a people-centred public transport system, has started many initiatives in order to help the commuters manage their travel time and transfers in a better manner as well as make more informed decisions on transport.

E Sreedharan said that the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation’s collaboration with Google is yet another step aimed at making it easier for the public to plan their travel by using the transit information on Google Maps.

Google Transit is a navigation tool on Google Maps which offers information on train times, location of stations, time taken for travel, ticket fares, and the frequency of service.

As Delhi is preparing for the Commonwealth Games to be held in October 2010, Google Transit will be of help to the large numbers of visitors to the national capital, E Sreedharan said. Apart from this, as new routes will be added to the Delhi Metro network, people from Delhi, Gurgaon and Noida will benefit by accessing information on train routes and train schedules.

In a statement, Manik Gupta, product manager (Google Maps & Local) of Google India, said the aim of Google Transit is to make information on public transport useful and easily accessible. A commuter can, with just a click on a station, will get information on train times, stations, frequency of service, and passing lines.

The new service by Google will benefit the Delhi Metro – which is the favoured public transportation for tens of thousands of commuters every day – by not only attracting new commuters but also by helping the existing commuters to find out new routes. All these services, Manik Gupta added, will be available on computers ands also on mobile phones.

Google already has similar tie-ups on providing information with Kolkata Metro, Hyderabad Metro, and Chennai MRTS.

Each day, about 950,000 commuters use the Delhi Metro, which has a network of around 96 kilometres. It has been planned to extend the Delhi Metro’s network to 190 kilometres by October 2010, ahead of the Commonwealth Games.

The project seeks to implement a 23km metro line between New Delhi and airport and further extending it up to Dwarka.

Reliance Infra received total funding of Rs 2500 crore for a debt requirement of Rs 2020 crore. For an investment of Rs 2885 crore project with the Debt to Equity Ratio of 70:30, the company was able to close the funding at 255 points lower than prime lending rate of Axis Bank, which is the lead banker for the deal. India Infrastructure Finance Company Ltd (IIFCL) Bank of India, Canara Bank, Central Bank of India, Andhra Bank, Allahabad Bank, Dena Bank, Punjab & Sind Bank, and UCO Bank, are some of the other financial institutions in the deal.

Delhi Station, Shivaji Stadium, Dhaula Kuan Station, NH8 Station, IGI Airport Station and Dwarka are the six stations the project contains. The metro line will run underground with 5 underground stations and one elevated.

“Reliance Infrastructure is committed to the development of this project to world class standards well within record time of 30 months, before the Commonwealth Games. We got the LOI in January 2008 and have not only completed the major portion of design and engineering but also have awarded all major contracts.” Director of the project, K.P. Maheshwari said.

The New Delhi, Shivaji Stadium and Dhaula Kuan is the world renowned consultant from Hong Kong from MTR Corp, the company that developed that entire rail network in Hong Kong.

“DAMEL, Delhi project is another step towards establishing us as a leading player in building urban transport infrastructure that will provide further impetus to the country’s rapidly accelerating economic growth,” Maheshwari added.

The project will ensure smooth passengers interchange and remote checking of baggages at three stations- New Delhi, Shivaji Stadium and Dhaula Kuan. The stations will be air conditioned and will have platform screen doors. The revenue will mainly come from the tickets and retail activities at the station and advertisement and other commercial activities.