Delhi Metro services on the Blue Line, one of the busiest routes in the network, were disrupted on Thursday following a cable theft. The incident occurred between the Moti Nagar and Kirti Nagar stations. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) announced that trains would run at reduced speeds throughout the day, leading to expected delays in services.
The DMRC later confirmed that the cable theft would be resolved only after operational hours, meaning services would remain affected throughout the day.
"The cable theft issue on the Blue Line between Moti Nagar and Kirti Nagar will be rectified only after the end of operational hours in the night," the DMRC stated, advising passengers to plan their journeys accordingly.
Sources indicate that the theft occurred in a section of the track not monitored by CCTV surveillance. Unlike the station areas, this part lacks camera coverage, making it more susceptible to such incidents. The theft took place near an industrial zone, further increasing the area's vulnerability to criminal activities. Additionally, as the incident occurred at night, the CCTV cameras near the station were unable to provide clear footage of the perpetrators.
In a service update, the corporation noted, "Train services on Blue Line (Dwarka Sector 21 - Noida Electronic City /Vaishali) are being regulated today since morning due to prima facie what appears to be a case of theft and damage to signaling cables caused by some thieves/miscreants between Moti Nagar and Kirti Nagar Metro stations. As a result, trains are running at restricted speed in this section, resulting in bunching of trains. However, normal train services are available on the rest of the section of Blue Line. To avoid inconvenience to the public during the day time, the necessary repair will be undertaken during night hours after the closing of revenue Service."
The Blue Line, an essential and high-traffic corridor of Delhi Metro, links Dwarka in the western part of the national capital to Noida and Vaishali in the eastern region of Uttar Pradesh.
This line serves vital areas including Rajiv Chowk, Yamuna Bank, Mayur Vihar Phase 1, Noida Sector 16, and Noida Sector 18, which host numerous offices.
The delay, which occurred during morning office hours, caused significant inconvenience for passengers, especially those traveling to work in areas served by the Blue Line.
Restoration of normal operations is expected to start once metro services end for the day, with repairs planned during the non-operational hours.