JOIN USHarried commuters take packed Metro
With a majority of autorickshaws and conventional taxis staying off road throughout the day here, Delhi Metro witnessed unprecedented rush at many Metro stations on Wednesday.
While interchange stations like Rajiv Chowk, Central Secretariat witnessed heavy rush during the peak hours, stations like New Delhi and Chandni Chowk saw rush all throughout the day as the rail passengers – both arriving and leaving the city – were forced to depend on Metro due to non-availability of autorickshaws and taxis at the railway station.
“It was difficult to board the train at Central Secretariat as all trains on yellow line were running full in the morning hours,” said Dipak Mondal.
He works at Connaught Place and commutes by Metro from Lajpat Nagar to Rajiv Chowk
every day. The New Delhi station witnessed a heavy rush of railway passengers.
Commuters had a harrowing time boarding and alighting trains. Passengers with luggage found it difficult to board the trains.
Some found it prudent to wait for their family members to pick them from the station.
“We tried getting into the Metro. But we enquired from the CISF guy manning the entrance about the rush inside the Metro Station. I have to go Vaishali and the private taxis plying today are asking for triple than the usual rate,” said Rajesh Som, an Allahabad resident.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Metro officers said additional staff was deployed on Wednesday to manage the unusually large crowds. Extra trips of trains were also made to clear the rush.
Sanitation workers join protest. Thousands of sanitation workers of the three municipal corporations also joined the trade union protest.
They also organised a sit-in protest outside Civic Centre – headquarter of North and South Municipal Corporation.
The workers demanded regularisation of contractual workers and to provide medical benefits and uniforms.
“We wanted to place our demand with the commissioners, but we were not allowed to enter the building. We gave a list of our demands to the labour officer. We would go on strike again on March 14 if our demands are not met,” Randir Gagat, a union leader said.