The Hindu : New Delhi News : Metro’s effort to rein in crowds

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Friday, Feb 19, 2010
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New Delhi

Metro’s effort to rein in crowds

Staff Reporter

— Photo: V.V. Krishnan

Commuters seen changing lines at the Rajiv Chowk metro station on Thursday after their movement was regulated by Delhi Metro authorities on a pilot basis to avoid commotion.

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Metro railway is making yet another effort to rein in crowds. On Thursday it launched a crowd segregation system on a pilot basis at Rajiv Chowk metro station which registers over three lakh footfalls every day.

For managing the crowds on Platform No. 1 and 2 for trains with destination to Jehangirpuri and Central Secretariat, the authorities have barred people from using the escalators for going down to the platforms. Escalators will now be used only by those who get off the trains and come towards the main concourse.

For people wishing to go from the concourse to Platform No. 1 and 2 a staircase towards D Block has been designated.

“We observed the way crowds were merging on Platforms 1 and 2. We also noticed that the maximum number of people tend to stand on the platform near the bottom of the staircase leading to congestion. By designating the staircases and escalators, we have been able to evenly spread the waiting passengers along the length of the platform,” said a metro official.

The new plan will be studied for possible changes before it is introduced at other stations. “Right now we have chosen a small area. Once the upcoming new Gurgaon line is commissioned we will extend it to the other side of the station as well. We need to study its impact of crowd behaviour,” the official explained.

The project did face initial hiccups with passengers getting into arguments with the guards.

“The way people barge into the metro without letting the passengers get off, a similar pattern was being noticed on the stairs as well. With the stairs being used for both going up and down at the same time, it had turned into a harrowing experience for women and older people. This new exercise is an attempt to streamline the flow of passengers. It is similar to making the road one-way for traffic use,” the official said.

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