The newly inaugurated metro corridor in Delhi, opened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi just last Sunday, suffered a significant setback when thieves made off with approximately 500 meters of signaling cable between the Dipali Chowk and Majlis Park stations. This incident occurred on Thursday, leading to a drastic reduction in train speeds to just 25 kilometers per hour in the affected section, a significant decrease compared to the usual operating speeds of the metro trains, resulting in considerable inconvenience to passengers.

According to officials from the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), train services in the affected area had to be controlled following the discovery of the theft on Thursday morning. The reduced speed was enforced as a safety measure to prevent any incidents while the metro services were still operational through that segment. Commuters have expressed their frustration, as the sudden change in speed impacted their travel times and overall experience.

To address the issue, the DMRC has announced that restoration work on the signaling cable would be conducted during the night hours when there is typically less passenger traffic. Officials highlighted that it is not feasible to replace the stolen cables during the day due to the risk of completely halting metro services. This incident raises concerns about security measures in place for critical infrastructure and the potential for similar occurrences in the future, stressing the need for enhanced protective protocols to safeguard public transport systems.