Hindustan Times (Lucknow)

Stress-free, dignified travel for citizens

- Anupam Srivastava anupam.srivastava@hindustant­imes.com

Metro is expected to change the way people commute in the city of nawabs. From next month, commuters will get faster, dignified, affordable and a stress-free travel experience.

With a capacity of 1,200 commuters for every metro, the train is likely to ease the congestion on the city roads to some extent.

“We are hopeful that once people start using the metro, the traffic jams on the roads will reduce,” said municipal commission­er Udairaj Singh.

As Lucknow is among the more densely populated cities in the state, traffic bottleneck­s have become a commuter’s nightmare during peak hours. Stranded drivers not only face health hazards due to driving for long hours but are also likely to indulge in road rage.

This may also lead to travel phobia in extreme cases, says psychologi­st Dr Pallavi Bhatnagar. The number of vehicles on the roads is likely to decrease with the arrival of the metro. Metro will not only help daily commuters get rid of the stress caused due to several hours of driving, but will also make their journey comfortabl­e. Be it winter, summer or rainy season, metro will make travel comfortabl­e throughout the year, she adds.

As the metro will pass through Krishna Nagar, Transport Nagar, Alambagh, Mawaiyya and Charbagh, it will be a boon for residents who are often stranded due to waterloggi­ng in the rainy season.

Every monsoon, commuting becomes a nightmare for residents due to waterloggi­ng under Mawaiyya bridge. The area gets cut off from the city. With metro on this route, commuting should become easier for us NIRMAL SINGH, president, Alambagh Gurudwara

President of Alambagh Gurudwara Nirmal Singh says, “Commuting becomes a nightmare for residents in this area due to heavy waterloggi­ng under Mawaiyya bridge every monsoon. The entire area gets cut off from the city. With the arrival of metro on this route, commuting should become easier for us.”

Safety of passengers, especially women, is a matter of concern as far as public transport is concerned. With CCTV on the platforms as well as inside the coaches, commuting is likely to become safer. Presence of CCTVs may also check commuters from spitting and littering on the stations and inside the coaches, hence keeping them clean.

With a frequency of five minutes during peak hours, availabili­ty of the train will also not be a problem.

Truly a modern symbol of commuting in the 21st century, the metro may soon leave behind Vikrams and autoricksh­aws and become a lifeline for the city.

 ?? HT PHOTO ?? The metro train will have a capacity of 1,200 commuters
HT PHOTO The metro train will have a capacity of 1,200 commuters

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