New Delhi, Jul 31 (IANS): Delhi Metro's implementation of its first phase of construction has been rated as excellent by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which financed 60 percent of the project, a statement said Sunday.

The JICA conducted the study which rated the project execution effort at '3', the highest possible grade, indicating that the performance of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) was excellent.

"The JICA employed the Foundation for Advanced Studies on International Development (FASID), a Japan-based research and training organisation, for the evaluation of Delhi Metro's Phase I project," said the DMRC statement.

FASID submitted an interim report this month which said that the Phase I project was consistent with India's development policies, development needs and the Japanese aid policy.

"The project was of great relevance as it provided infrastructure in the transportation sector and contributed in the growth of the nation, besides other socio-economic benefits," said the study.

"The outputs and the efficiency in execution of the project are also appreciated," it added.

The study further specified that the project had excellent training systems that trained staff efficiently and enabled it to incorporate experiences of the deployed staff into the training curricula from time to time.

"The system was always improving or equipping itself with better techniques, such as ATO (Automatic Train Operations) system and shortening headways by modifying operations," it said.

JICA also appreciated the fact that the project was completed within the stipulated time frame and budgetary limits.

According to the statement, Phase 1 was sanctioned in September 1996 with a timeline of completion in 10 years and the construction started on Oct 1, 1998.

The project was completed two years and seven months before the stipulated date.

About 60 percent of the project cost was financed by the Government of Japan through a soft loan by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), now called JICA.

The Phase-I of the DMRC consisted of three lines -- Shahdara to Rithala, Vishwa Vidyalaya to Central Secretariat, and Indraprastha to Dwarka Sub City.