The Hindu : New Delhi News : Delhi Metro hopes to make a crore on Raksha Bandhan

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Aug 24, 2007
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New Delhi

New Delhi

Delhi Metro hopes to make a crore on Raksha Bandhan

Smriti Kak Ramachandran

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation wants to make the most of the crowds that will descend on the Metro stations on Raksha Bandhan day this Tuesday. Anticipating a sharp increase in rider-ship on the festival day, the DMRC is hopeful of breaking the previous rider-ship and revenue records.

Sources in the DMRC said while the average revenue generated through sale of tickets has risen to Rs.70 lakh to Rs.75 lakh per day, the Corporation is eyeing a collection of about Rs.1 crore on Raksha Bandhan.

“Going by past records where we registered a considerable increase in rider-ship, this year we are expected to better the previous records. Special arrangements are being made to facilitate smooth flow of traffic and ensure safety and comfort for the commuters,” sources said.

A special time-table has been approved for the day and peak frequency for trains will be maintained on all three lines between 8 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. “To meet the extra rush we will have trains on stand-by, there will be a train every four minutes on Line 1 and 2 and every four and a half minutes on Line 3. For Line 1 from Shahdara to Rithala, 21 trains will run between stations, while on Line 2 Delhi University-Central Secretariat and Line 3 Barakhamba-Dwarka, 11 and 26 trains will ferry people,” sources said.

The DMRC will run additional ticketing counters and coin vending machines that have been installed at some stations, will also be stocked with adequate change for the convenience of passengers.

“Security will be stepped up and apart from the Central Industrial Security Force personnel an additional posse of Group 4 Securitas guards will be placed at all the stations.”

In 2006, the rider-ship figures on Raksha Bandhan day went up to 603,543 from 362,808 in 2005, and the revenue jumped from Rs.36,68,320 to Rs.6,03,543.

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