New Delhi: Delhi Police’s Metro unit has conducted a survey and identified 13 stretches vulnerable to cable theft, of which 11 are newly flagged and two were already on the watchlist, officials said.Police sources said newly identified hotspots include the stretch between Dhaula Kuan and Shivaji Stadium metro stations, which connects to the Airport Line; the section between Qutub Minar and Sultanpur Depot; Mukundpur Depot; Majlis Park Metro station; the stretch between ESI and Punjabi Bagh metro stations; and the section between Shakurpur and Netaji Subhash Place (NSP) metro stations.Other sensitive sections include the stretches between Kirti Nagar and Ramesh Nagar, Welcome and Maujpur, Welcome and Krishna Nagar, and Gokulpuri and Johri Enclave, as well as the Trilokpuri-IP Estate corridor.The two stretches earlier identified as vulnerable are Shastri Park to Seelampur and the metro track between Jahangirpuri and Haiderpur Mor metro stations.A senior police officer said inspections revealed several security and maintenance lapses that may be enabling cable theft. These include broken boundary walls at some locations, damaged or missing railings along vulnerable stretches, and inadequate pruning of overgrown trees near metro tracks.Data shared by police shows that 63 cases of cable theft were reported in 2025, leading to 55 arrests. In 2026, up to April 15, 20 cases have been registered and 16 arrests made.Officials said cable theft affects the metro’s signalling system, forcing trains to operate at restricted speeds as a safety measure. Damage to cables often results in service disruptions, as replacements during revenue hours, when trains run every 3-5 minutes, are challenging and pose safety risks.To curb such incidents, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is rolling out multiple measures. These include cementing cables in theft-prone areas, installing anti-theft clamps, and exploring drone and CCTV surveillance in vulnerable zones. Concertina coils are being installed, protective covers added to cable trays, and copper cables are being replaced with aluminium.Sources said a meeting held last month between Delhi Police and DMRC officials decided to intensify joint patrolling by DMRC staff, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and Delhi Police. Coordinated patrols will be stepped up, particularly at night and along identified vulnerable stretches.“DMRC was also asked to deploy private security guards at vulnerable points, including pillars where unauthorised access for cutting cables is possible,” a source said.Deputy commissioner of police (Metro) Bharat Reddy said police have been taking swift action after identifying vulnerable stretches. “We have arrested several accused in connection with cable theft cases. In two instances, we caught the accused before they could carry out the theft,” he said.
