Filing FIR at Metro stations gets easier

NEW DELHI: Commuters who face harassment, stalking or theft in Delhi Metro will not have to go to police stations to lodge a complaint. The Delhi Police has issued an order, asking its staff to be present at their booths at 23 Metro stations and help passengers in filing complaints.

According to the order, cops will be present at the booths between 9am to 5pm. Once more staff is available, the facility will be extended round-the-clock and across all Metro stations. The booths will also be provided computers so that e-FIRs can be filed.

Crimes in Delhi Metro are dealt with by the Metro wing of Delhi Police. The Metro system, comprising 134 stations, has 10 police stations with 220 personnels. These stations are spread far and thin over the vast Metro network and raising a complaint or reporting a crime can prove to be a challenge. The 10 police stations are at Shastri Park, Kashmere Gate, Rithala, Raja Garden, Rajiv Chowk, Janakpuri, Airport, Ghitorni, INA, Nehru Place, Yamuna Bank Depot and Pragati Maidan.

“Unlike police stations in the city covering residential area, the jurisdiction of a Metro Police Station is spread over long distance. For instance, the station between Rajiv Chowk and Dwarka Sector 21 Metro station comes under the jurisdiction of Raja Garden Metro Police Station. The average time from the police station to reach a Metro station is about 30 mins. We are trying to reduce inconvenience for passengers,” said Pankaj Singh, DCP (Metro).