Metro to create extra space to handle passenger rush

As the launch of phase-III network has been delayed, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has started identifying crowded stations and preparing plans to decongest it.

In the first phase, design of seven-eight stations has been changed to create extra space.

DMRC has now identified Karol Bagh, Uttam Nagar east, Dwarka Mor and Dwarka sector 21 where more space is required.

As 140 kilometres of is to be added to the Metro network in phase III, including two new lines, DMRC was expecting to free up traffic bottlenecks in the congested central and south of the city and also take the burden off existing stations.

But since the new lines are not expected to be operational before mid 2018, DMRC has started renovation of crowded stations.

“We have made changes at HUDA City Centre, Vaishali, Chandni Chowk, Chawri Bazar and other stations. At some stations the entry point was taken outside the stations to create more space. Now, we will focus on other stations,” said Sharat Sharma, director (operations) of DMRC.

Uttam Nagar east, Karol Bagh and Dwarka Mor handles 40,000-45,000 passengers everyday while Dwarka sector 21 handles 12,000 passengers but since it is an interchange station with airport line, DMRC has decided to provide more gates on the premises.

“A general thinking is crowd at existing stations will reduce after the opening of phase-III. But since it will provide better connectivity, we are expecting new users to join the network. At many stations, we are installing extra automated fare collection gates, baggage scanner and door frame metal detector for More gates provided on the premises of Dwarka Sector 21 station At HUDA City Centre, an overbridge was constructed to make entry and exit at different floors

At Kirti Nagar, DMRC has kept different floors for entry and exit

faster clearance,” said a DMRC official.

At Vaishali, DMRC removed token counters from the second floor and shifted it to the ground floor.

“At any Metro station, the queue is either for buying tokens or security check so we are trying to create a distance between

these two areas so that the crowd doesn’t merge,” the official added.

At HUDA City Centre, an over bridge was constructed to make entry and exit at different floors. Similarly at Kirti Nagar, to decongest the station, DMRC has used different floors for entry and exit of passengers.