To ease commute, Delhi Metro to run extra trains

NEW DELHI: In view of the alarming levels of pollution across Delhi-ncr, Delhi Metro on Wednesday decided to run extra train trips across its network.

From Thursday, the Metro will run 3,317 daily train trips, instead of 3,131 – an increase of 186 train trips – to provide increased services during the inclement climate.

These trips will be increased by inducting trains from the operational maintenance reserve, kept in the Metro train depots, by optimising the required maintenance schedule.

“As the weather in the city needs urgent addressing, DMRC has decided to implement the above plan with immediate effect from today (Wednesday) afternoon, which will result in an increase of approximately 80-90 trips today itself,” a Delhi Metro Rail Corporation statement said.

The statement further reads that there will be deployment of additional ticketing operators, customer facilitation agents and CISF personnel to facilitate smooth passage of commuters and speedy frisking.

A team of officers has been directed to monitor major stations for smooth traffic movement and monitoring of stations/line is also being done from the control room.

Earlier on Wednesday, Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri asked DMRC Managing Director Mangu Singh to deploy additional ticketing operators and customer facilitation agents to make travel easier.

Moreover, the parking rates at parking lots at Metro stations will be raised by four times from Thursday, in order to discourage use of private vehicles.

The decision was taken at a meeting on Wednesday between the Delhi government, Delhi Pollution Control Committee, DMRC and other agencies. The meeting was chaired by LG Anil Baijal.