JOIN USDelhi Metro has started displaying information about the number of coaches at some stations on a pilot basis for passengers’ convenience. With the induction of six-coach trains, passengers have always complained of being unsure whether the approaching train is a four- or six-coach one.
This pilot project has been implemented on the Metro stretch from Yamuna Bank to Noida City Centre. “The final implementation has not been done yet as we are running this on an experimental basis. Since we would like to make this work on all lines and across stations, this will take a while as whichever software we finalise will be monitoring the trains 24 hours,” said a Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) official.
The DMRC has chosen stations that are generally less crowded. If the project meets success, the DMRC will extend the experiment to crowded stations as well. “The software and other operating systems have not been finalised yet,” added the official. Along with a display, the DMRC will also make announcements—as being done at some crowded stations—with details of the approaching train. Some passengers travelling on this stretch expressed happiness, but said there are some glitches. “The information is not accurate sometimes. But we are hopeful that this will work in the near future,” said Noida resident Isha Sharma.
Passengers have often complained of not knowing which coach train will arrive next on any platform, and even guards get hassled with no information given about the same. “It is difficult to manage passengers in crowded stations like Rajiv Chowk and Central Secretariat. If we are informed earlier about the coach numbers, it will become easier for us to direct passengers where to stand and form queues,” said a guard at Rajiv Chowk.
Women passengers complain that they suffer the most, especially at busy stations, due to unavailability of information about the number of coaches.