The recent incident of an hour-long disruption of its service that threw life out of gear only reconfirmed the significance of the Metro for average Kolkatans. The Indian Express profiles the world's cheapest Metro up close and presents the facts you were not aware of; plans, challenges and targets of the country's first ever Metro Railways. On an average of 4 lakh commuters travel by the Metro each day.

With the opening of the southern extension, it will add another 5 lakh commuters a day Fact Files:

• Foundation stone was laid in the year 1972.
  
• No of stations: Underground: 15 Elevated: 1 Surface: 1.
  
• Distance between stations (existing) Average: 1.020 km Maximum : 2.151 km(Dum Dum to Belgachia) Minimum : 0.597 km (Central to Chandni Chowk).
  
• Total length: 16.32 km Southern Extension.  
  
• Sanctioned in 1999-2000 ? Route length: 8.70 km.
  
• Number of stations: 6 Kudghat, Bansdroni, Naktala, Gariabazar, Pranabnagar and New Garia.
  
• Expected schedule: Tollygunge-Naktala to become operational by September. Entire project. is scheduled to be operational by June 2009.

• The Metro Railways in Kolkata have excelled in being punctual. Since 2001, the Metro has recorded a punctuality of over 99 per cent.
  
• The best ever punctuality of 99.91 per cent was achieved in January 2008.
  
• Train delays and detention due to technical faults in the rake have declined drastically from 147 cases in 200001 to only 39 cases in 2007 (till January 2008).
  
• In the forthcoming years, the Metro has planned for an upgradation programme.