Capital Matters: Delhi's commuters swamp new Metro

The state of the art Metro rail system is finally a reality, but it's in real danger of turning into a tourist attraction rather than serve Delhi's impatient commuters.

Most commuters it has been found, in the week since the Metro opened its doors to the public are here for a joyride, rather than using it to get across the sprawling metropolis.

Senior metro officials are at their wit's end wondering how to cope with the influx of people engulfing the stations in huge numbers, with families and friends and treating the metro stations like picnic spots.

Overwhelmed by the response of the public coming in large numbers to visit the Metro System since it opened to the public on December 24, officials have inserted advertisements in all major national dailies requesting people to defer their pleasure trips for the time being.

Requesting Delhi's citizens to "allow essential travel to take place" the advertisement assures people "Delhi Metro Service is here to stay."

The capital has now joined a select bracket of international cities, which boasts of this facility. And the excitement is such that people are seen crowding under bridges over the River Jamuna, Inter State Bus Terminus (ISBT) and various other places, waving vigorously at every metro train that passes.

"Till now we have seen such trains only in the movies. It will be exciting to travel in it," said 12-year-old, Ramesh Kumar, who works in a restaurant at ISBT.

Commuters intent on sampling the "escalator experience" have queued up outside counters at the Seelampur station, where ticket distribution has remained slow. But the combination of glistening floors, and the whizzing escalators as the steel grey train arrives with a hiss gives the first time commuter his own high.

Security is minimal, with nobody being frisked, nor is baggage being scanned. But this is probably because for now, commuters outnumber security personnel.

As the automated doors of the metro slid noiselessly shut and the super smooth train pulled away, there was no missing the tremendous sense of anticipation. Minutes later the public address system announced in Hindi and English: "Now we will reach the Shastri Nagar station."

At the station a rowdy crowd stood waving hysterically. The scene was repeated at every station, delaying the train every time. Despite warning signs on the door asking people to stand clear and not lean against the doors, few follow the instructions, completely ignoring the stipulated 30-second interval. The doors slid open after making a vain effort to close.

Serious passengers who want to make use of the metro are hoping that in the weeks to come, the joy riders will have had their fill and that first timers will get to grips with the hi-tech mass rapid transit system.

Delhi's harassed middle class however welcome it. At Tis Hazari station, one says, "It's a boon for a city with a growing population, and will help in reducing pollution and congestion on roads."
A lawyer, working at the Tis Hazari Courts, Ashok Gupta has for several years been commuting by bus from Shahdara to Tis Hazari to reach office.

"But for the past couple of days I have been travelling by metro," he says excitedly. "Many of my colleagues staying in this particular stretch are all very proud to travel in this kind of comfort and speed," he points.

An 11-year-old Raju Das has already made up his mind, "I would love to use the Metro to reach school as then I wouldn't have to wake up early for the bus." His school mates agree. Like them several other travellers were unanimous that this was the most comfortable ride they had had on a public transport system anywhere in the country.

Naseem Faridi from Meerut in Uttar Pradesh although in an upbeat mood, rued the fact that such kind of commuting was not available in her city.

"Delhi is becoming like a foreign country," she stated. "Since commuting in Delhi will be much easier in the years to come, I'll insist on joining college in the capital. All along we kept hearing about how people misbehave with women in city buses. Now no more of that," she hoped.

For people commuting by bus or using personal vehicles on the GT Karnal Road between Kashmere Gate and Shahdara, it is definitely useful.

The first phase of 8.3 km stretch includes six stations - Shahdara, Welcome Colony, Seelampur, Shastri Park, Kashmiri Gate and Tis Hazari.

In the next three years, there will be another 45 stations extending to 63 km bringing Dwarka, Rohini, Janakpuri, Vikaspuri, Patel Nagar, Rajouri Garden, Connaught Place and Central Secretariat within the Metro.

By 2005, it will be possible to get from Dwarka near the Indira Gandhi International Airport to get to Barakhamba Road and from there on to east Delhi. The network will run largely over surface and in certain sections, underground - for instance, connecting north Delhi with central Delhi.

Travel will be easier for south Delhi areas also and by 2011, when the second phase is complete, there will be a link going all the way to Noida.

The entire project envisages a route length of nearly 200 km by 2021. Thus, the entire city will be well connected by Metro.

The Metro has created an immense amount of goodwill with its unobtrusive construction and now it is up to Delhiites, notorious for vandalising public utilities to take pride in their metro. Whether the commuters will change their habits is yet to be seen, but the geography of Delhi has certainly changed for the better.