Alert Metro operators saved 170 lives: DMRC

The increased number of cases of commuters attempting suicide at metro premises has earned Delhi metro the tag of ‘suicide point’ of the capital.  Contrary to the image, the officials of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) claim that despite several challenges, around 170 lives have been saved on different station premises due to the train operator’s alertness over the last few years.

“Around 170 lives have been saved by timely application of emergency brakes by our train operators from 2003 to 2011, when they observed that somebody had deliberately jumped or fell on the track or was walking on the track when the train is approaching the platform,” a DMRC official said. 

In the spotlight 

Delhi metro has been under the spotlight due to the increasing number of suicide bids – both by jumping on the track as well as jumping off the elevated stations on the roads below. 

Around a dozen of cases have been reported this year, with at least five of them occurring in the month of May itself.  

The officials said the train operators are given rigorous training of 30 weeks to make them physically and mentally strong (besides technical expertise) so that they are extremely alert and watchful while on duty and are able to avert any kind of untowardly incidents like suicide.

“It is due to such training that so many lives despite the fact that it creates a lot of physical and mental stress on the operator, who is driving the train,” a DMRC official said.