 The concept of a mass rapid transit for New Delhi first emerged from a traffic and travel characteristics study which was carried out in the city in 1969 . Over the next several years , many official committees by a variety of government departments were commissioned to examine issues related to technology , route alignment , and governmental jurisdiction . In 1984 , the Delhi Development Authority and the Urban Arts Commission came up with a proposal for developing a multi @-@ modal transport system , which would consist of constructing three underground mass rapid transit corridors as well augmenting the city 's existing suburban railway and road transport networks . 
