Platform screen doors for automatic ops, not to stop suicides: DMRC

THERE IS a high chance that a suicide attempt on the Metro tracks might leave victims maimed than “successful” in their bid, points out Delhi Metro chief Mangu Singh.

Official figures with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) show that in 2015, of the 80 cases of suicide attempts at various Delhi Metro stations, 17 victims died. This year till August, there were 27 suicide attempts of which 11 died.

“Most suicide victims are left maimed. The incidence of sureshot death in case of suicides on Metro tracks is very low. Our drivers are trained to keep a close watch on commuters either accidentally falling onto the tracks or attempting suicide by jumping in front of an oncoming train. Their response to this is rather quick. In most cases, they manage to apply the emergency brakes but even in those cases where the train does run over the victim, it does not always kill them but mostly leaves the victim maimed. We hope the statistics will discourage suicide attempts on the Metro,” Singh told The Indian Express.

Following several instances of suicides on Metro tracks, there was a clamour for platform screen doors. Even as the Delhi Metro is installing this advanced feature on Line 7 (Majlis Park to Shiv Vihar) and Line 8 (West Janakpuri to Botanical Garden, Noida), the DMRC insists that the automatic screen doors have a different purpose. “Let us be clear that the platform screen doors are not meant to curb suicides. The doors will be on only two corridors... These doors are important for automatic train operations, a system in which we will be running driver-less trains, and will ensure better safety,” said Singh.

“Suicide attempts on Metro tracks throws the entire system out of gear. This happens despite our really quick response to the emergency. Even in cases where the body gets entangled under the train, we manage to clear the tracks within a period of 20 minutes. But even these 20 minutes hurt the Metro system as trains on the corridor start bunching and there are consequent delays,” Singh explained.

“We also pull out the affected train operator because the trauma is huge for him too,” he added.

Archive Official figures with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation show that in 2015, of the 80 cases of suicide attempts at various Delhi Metro stations, 17 victims died.