Why are Metro’s emergency exit gates shut?
NEW DELHI: It is said tragedies do not come knocking at one’s doors and thus, it is imperative to stay well prepared for any unforeseen situation. However, it seems that the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has taken the issue of keeping the emergency exits ready in cases of untoward incidents a bit too lightly.
The emergency exit doors at the platforms either remain closed or locked at all times and this has been a constant affair which can lead to serious casualties in case of a fire or any other emergency. “According to fire safety standards, the emergency exit doors at all public buildings need to be strategically located and they cannot be locked at any point in time, because during a crisis situation, the response time is very crucial and one cannot be expected to wait till the management comes with their keys,” said an official from the Delhi Fire Services who did not wish to be named.
“The exit doors should be kept opened and designed in a way that they can be pushed open to the outside. The evacuation plan needs to be displayed widely around the public building and the way should also be free of any obstacle,” clarified the official. While this reporter spoke to a few commuters on the Blue and Yellow lines, constituting the busiest routes, passengers were clueless about any evacuation plan or emergency exits in the platform. One of the daily passengers of the Yellow line said: “We do not know anything about either the evacuation plan or the location of the emergency exits at any of the stations.”
Surprisingly, the most congested among the Metro stations and the one that probably sees the maximum footfall in a day — Rajiv Chowk —.too did not have any proper emergency exit or evacuation plan displayed. A reality check by Millennium Post revealed that the doors in Rajiv Chowk metro station and others were either bolted or properly secured with a chain. The stations visited by Millennium
Post’s team were: Anand Vihar, Karkadooma, Yamuna Bank, Barakhamba Road, Ramakrisha Ashram Marg, Dwarka Mor, Rohini West, Rajiv Chowk. And in all these stations, the emergency exits were chain locked. Interestingly, Udyog Bhawan, Central Secretariat, ITO, New Delhi and the Airport Express line exit points are open from one end.
On contacting the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) official, he said: “The emergency exits are supposed to be kept closed and they are only to be opened during an emergency. Even the tunnels have provisions for emergency exits.”
The official, however, said that the on duty staff are completely trained to handle such emergencies. He also informed that they are aware and conducting mock drills from time to time with the involvement of the National Disaster Management Department, CISF, and the Fire department, to handle any crisis situation.
“Emergency exits are locked because during the night hours, drug addicts and people in inebriated conditions have a tendency to make the stations a shelter for their activities. Sometimes, pickpockets, snatchers and miscreants hide themselves inside the corridors of emergency exits,” said an official at the Central Secretariat Metro station. Javed Qamar, a Delhibased architect said: “Delhi Metro is establishment of prestige and it should meet international standards by all means in terms of safety and there should be a proper evacuation plan displayed at all prominent places to help passengers make their way through smoothly without panicking.”
“In any emergency situation, Metro staff must manage and supervise people. We have provisions that in case of an emergency, we can evacuate people within minutes. This is a comprehensive system and we cannot let the passengers take evacuation decisions,” the DMRC spokesman said.