Delhi Metro’s efforts significantly reduce OHE trippings due to kite flying on I-Day, Janmashtami

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has recorded a remarkable decline in Overhead Equipment (OHE) trippings caused primarily by kite flying during Independence Day when kite flying is at its peak as well as on Janmashtami which fell on the very next day.

“Traditionally, kite strings—especially metallic-coated manjha—becoming entangled with the metro’s overhead wires have been the leading cause of OHE tripping during this period, often resulting in delays and disruptions in metro services. With festivals like Independence Day and Janmashtami being popular occasions for kite flying in Delhi-NCR, the risk of such incidents is at its peak,” a DMRC spokesperson said on Sunday.

Advertisement

The DMRC has established a dedicated response system to manage such incidents. Maintenance teams of 5–7 members are deployed across all lines during these occasions which immediately rush to any affected location to remove entangled strings, ensuring restoration and maintaining punctuality of metro services.

Apart from this, DMRC’s Traction Operation & Maintenance (O&M) team has also implemented some preventive measures which includes installation of insulation sleeves on catenary wires at elevated stations with heavy bird and kite activity to prevent short circuits from tangled strings.

“So far, sleeves have been installed at 20 elevated stations — 11 on Line-1, 6 on Lines 3 & 4, 2 on Line-6, and 1 on Line-2 — with further coverage provided beneath portal structures and cantilever locations in Phase-III stations,” the spokesperson said.

Preventive measures also includes modification of OHE to increase clearance between live and earthed wires at key points by using extra insulators, shifting return conductors to minimise risk of contact with live wires and Regular Inspection & Maintenance, with Catenary Maintenance Vehicles (CMVs) deployed during non-operational hours to promptly remove kite threads and other foreign objects.

With all these measures in place, incidents of service disruptions caused by kite strings getting entangled in the metro’s overhead wires during the festive season of August have reduced significantly over the years, particularly around Independence Day — from 102 in 2021 to 90 in 2022, 33 in 2023, 23 in 2024 and just 11 in 2025.

“The DMRC has also run an awareness campaign advising the public to refrain from kite flying near Metro 25000 Volt OHE wires as it may prove dangerous/fatal. The public has also cooperated proactively thereby resulting in minimal cases of trippings being reported this year,” the spokesperson added.