JOIN USThe plight of metro feeders
The quick and reliable metro services have always earned the Delhi Metro accolades but, its feeder bus service has always been criticised.
These feeder buses were launched in November 2007 to facilitate passengers who were often left with no transport facility to reach their destinations from metro stations. But the feeder bus service have failed to provide a long-term solution and often passengers were seen waiting for the feeders due to their erratic frequency.
Even the conductors of these buses are fed up with the daily problems related to the buses. “These buses are in a very bad shape. They are not under the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and are run by some private firms. We don’t know why they do not take proper care of these buses,” enquired Raj Singh. The cab driver who also travels by feeder bus regularly added, “The crime scene has also increased in terms of chain snatching and pickpocketing as the buses cross areas like Dallupurah and Trilokpuri which are bad areas.”
Seema Yadav, a daily commuter said, “I am fed up of these buses. I have to travel by them as I do not have any other option to commute till the metro station. These buses are not at all dependable, they can break down anywhere. They hardly get these buses serviced and on top of that we hear cases of pickpocketing every day. The frequency of these buses is very poor.”
The DMRC has tried to reach as many colonies along the metro route as possible but, the fact remains that the lack of an extensive feeder bus service has meant that many who would otherwise want to use the metro, are unable to do so.
Another commuter of the feeder buses shared, “I have to wait for these buses for 45 minutes daily, sometimes it’s even an hour. The frequency is so damn poor. If one has to go somewhere on an urgent work, then only God save them!” rued Anupama Lal. The plight of the commuters does not stop here. Raju Kashyap, a cab driver said, “I have witnessed pickpocketing in these buses. The other day a boy snatched a commuters cell phone and ran away. No one could do anything. These boys carry blades and small knives with them to cut the pockets of the commuters. It’s really shocking.”
The fare for passengers travelling up to four kms is Rs 5 and Rs 10 for those travelling from four to ten kms. One has to pay Rs 15 for travelling beyond ten kms. The fare structure has brought the metro feeder bus fare at par with that of Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses.