The Delhi Metro Railway Corporation (DMRC) has issued a kite flying advisory for Independence Day, urging citizens to avoid flying kites near metro lines in residential areas. The advisory comes in response to the potential hazards posed by kite strings getting entangled in the overhead electrical equipment (OHE).
Kite flying is a popular tradition in Delhi-NCR, especially during Independence Day and Raksha Bandhan celebrations. However, the DMRC has highlighted the dangers associated with kite strings getting caught in the 25,000-volt live OHE wires running parallel to the metro tracks.
“Delhi Metro, which presently operates a network of almost 400 KM in Delhi-NCR, is primarily elevated with 25,000 voltage live Over Head Equipment (OHE) wires running parallel to the tracks for powering the trains for daily passenger services,” the corporation explained on social media platform X.
The DMRC has cautioned that kite strings becoming entangled in the OHE can be hazardous to both kite flyers and commuters. There is a high likelihood of kite strings getting caught in the OHE wires or the pantograph (equipment that draws power from the OHE) of a moving train if kites are flown near elevated Metro lines.
“Such incidences have the potential to not only disrupt the Metro services by damaging/tripping the OHE or pantograph but may also prove fatal to those flying kites with metallic maanjha,” warned the DMRC.
In order to address this safety concern, the DMRC has planned to deploy teams near “kite-prone stations” to swiftly remove any entangled kite strings as soon as they are spotted. This proactive measure aims to ensure the safety of passengers and maintain uninterrupted metro services during the festive period.
