Highlights:
- DMRC explains why people witness huge crowding outside metro stations
- Currently, DMRC runs 5,100 trains everyday with a peak frequency of 2.5 to 5 minutes on the major routes
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has issued a statement after long queues have been observed by people outside the entry gates of many Delhi Metro stations in the past several days.
In the statement, DMRC said, “After the resumption of Metro services from last month, the DMRC is running almost empty trains as we are carrying only 10-15% of our passenger capacity in view of the Covid restrictions imposed by the authorities”.
It added, “Lockdown guidelines have been further eased down by the authorities, enabling most of the economic activities to take place.
“As a result, there has been continuous build up of the passenger crowd outside our stations due to regulated entry resulting in inconvenience to them.”
DMRC further said that it “regrets the inconvenience caused to the passengers due to these restrictions. While appreciating the patience and cooperation exhibited by the passengers in such a scenario, DMRC hopes that the situation shall improve once the restrictions are relaxed by the authorities.”
In the statement issued on Thursday by DMRC it said that in recent days long queues have been observed outside metro stations as “entry to the stations is regulated due to restrictions on number of passengers to be allowed inside the train” in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
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Going by the current guidelines passengers are allowed to sit only on alternative seats and not even standing is allowed. Although DMRC is running maximum numbers of trains, passengers have to wait outside stations because of these restrictions, it said.
According to sources, every coach on the Delhi Metro train has a capacity of close to 300 passengers, 50 seated while 250 standing. Since commuters are not allowed to stand and only alternative seats could be used, effectively 25 people are riding in each carriage.
DMRC currently runs 5,100 train trips everyday with a peak frequency of 2.5 to 5 minutes on all of the major corridors. This was the same frequency at which the metro was operating during pre-Covid times, the DMRC said.
The metro is operating and running at its full frequency and permissible capacity but with a reduced number of passengers due to COVID-19 restrictions, it said.
For our esteemed passengers! pic.twitter.com/iJhGiHSNrz
— Delhi Metro Rail Corporation I कृपया मास्क पहनें? (@OfficialDMRC) July 1, 2021
