With the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) set to resume train services after five and a half months, Mangu Singh, the managing director of India’s largest metro network, spoke about the challenges in running the service including when Covid- 19 cases increase, the necessary preparations to ensure that safety regulations are followed and the repercussions of the pause on the finances of the corporation, among other issues.
Edited excerpts:
What are the main challenges the DMRC faces in executing its services during a pandemic?
The biggest challenge will be to ensure social distancing because our capacity will be drastically reduced. For example, during peak hours, we used to carry 360-400 people on a bus, now we will only be able to accommodate 50 passengers on a bus. If more people enter the system, we will face the challenge of accommodating and managing the crowd.
Another challenge will be keeping the system hygienic at all times. Trains run on high frequency, and there is very little time to disinfect them and put them back into service … Our goal is to put all our trains into service to ensure maximum frequency.
How will DMRC avoid crowding in trains and stations?
We want to make sure there are no peaks of overcrowding; that there is a uniform flow. We want people to support us and plan trips accordingly because this is the best way to use the system. And we can also provide the best service.
To guarantee social distancing on trains and in stations, we have a system whereby the driver will obtain information in real time about the number of passengers on the train. This is done based on the total weight of the passengers on a particular bus. We have the technology in place. This will allow you to skip stations if necessary until the number is balanced.
There is another system for crowd management. For example, if the train is full from the terminal station and it is not possible to accommodate more passengers in the next stations, then we will make the decision that the next train will not board passengers from the terminal station. With this, we will ensure that capacity is maintained for the next stations. Once operations begin, monitoring and management will be dynamic. All of our officials will constantly monitor this. We will delegate one official per line to monitor operations from the control room.
Isn’t it possible that stopping a train increases the crowds at a particular station?
The decision not to stop a train at a particular station will be a rare case and this will be done in an extreme situation. If trains skip stations, it will cause unnecessary inconvenience and overcrowding, but that will be the last resort.
The use of masks is mandatory when traveling on the metro. Will passengers without masks be penalized? Does the DMRC have any such provision?
We have asked the Delhi government to authorize us to impose fines under the Disaster Management Act (DMA). However, it seems like there are some difficulties in that as of now. Even if that authority is not granted, we are sure that a situation of penalizing people will not arise. The only problem will be for a passenger to enter with a mask but then take it off. When it comes to taking action, we have the authority that if someone defies the rules, we can ask them to leave the station; that will be a deterrent. We may also file an FIR against you or take action under the Delhi Metro Operations and Maintenance Act (2002).
As of March, DMRC had logged nearly six million passenger trips in one day. What type of passengers do you expect when services resume?
Our estimate is that once our system opens, we will be operating with 30% of our original (pre-Covid) passenger number of 2.7 million. This means that we will transport 800,000 to 900,000 passengers. Our passenger trips (line utilization) will be reduced from six million to two million.
But during Covid, we are not making any effort to attract more people or increase the number of passengers. Rather, our effort is to discourage people from taking unnecessary trips. People should only take essential trips. Once the pandemic passes, people will return.
Covid-19 cases are increasing in Delhi. Do you think this was a good time to resume operations?
This aspect of decision making is not from DMRC. We are not experts on that. Interested persons have made this decision. They had decided not to operate Metro for five and a half months. We have nothing to comment on.
Transportation experts say the low frequency of trains (the proposed waiting time is 5 to 7 minutes) will backfire and cause a large number of people at stations.
Our effort is to use all trains to provide maximum frequency. We will run the trades more or less as often as it used to be there before. There will only be a slight reduction due to the increased time spent at stations to allow passengers to get on and off the train.
How will you address air circulation concerns inside trains and in underground stations?
We have drawn up a detailed plan for the air conditioning system in indoor trains and stations. From 4.30 to 8.30, we will have to operate in 100% open mode, where fresh air will be infused into the system for full ventilation. From 8.30 to 10.30, we will have fresh air ventilation along with water coolers. During the day, the air circulation will be reduced a bit. This can cause the temperature inside the trains to be higher than normal and may cause some discomfort for passengers, but it is the safest mode.
Technical glitches were a problem for many lines even before closure. With the system closed for more than five months, are we likely to face an increase in technical failures in the system once it reactivates after such a long gap?
We have anticipated this problem. Complete system shutdown, even for 2-3 weeks, can lead to technical problems. Apart from this, there are also chances of theft of crucial items like cables. So we decided to keep the operating system. We used to do two trips each in the morning and in the evening. That way our system is fully functional.
The lines will open in a staggered fashion. What factors were considered in reaching this decision?
There is no particular reason to open the Yellow Line first or the Airport Express Line last. We were asked to open the network in a staggered manner and we thought that since the Yellow Line covers more area, we could open it first. Anyway, in five days, all lines will be open.
How many additional people has DMRC deployed just to ensure compliance with the new rules drafted for this pandemic?
Our manpower requirement has been reduced in several departments, such as at the token sales counters. So we have re-planned the deployment of personnel. We can get by with the current force. Also, we have asked the Delhi government to provide some civil defense volunteers. Hopefully they will provide 1,000 of these.
What is the financial loss incurred by DMRC due to the shutdown of its services due to a pandemic? Will it be profitable to run services at such a low capacity?
We have incurred a loss of about 1,500 crore rupees in passenger revenue in the last five and a half months, which is about 10 crore rupees per day on average. What would be the total loss at the end of this financial year, we still cannot make that assessment. It will take place once train services resume. But we are sure that people will return once the pandemic passes, as there is no alternative to the Metro on public transport.
There will be more losses if we don’t run the services. We have to pay salaries to our employees, electricity charges, etc. Once we resume services, the loss will be reduced.
Is DMRC reworking the revenue model to meet operating losses?
As for reshaping our revenue model, we have almost nothing (option). The fee structure is not in our hands; the rate setting committee does. We will approach the government to bail us out and help us if necessary.
Covid had slowed down the pace of infrastructure projects due to a labor shortage. Will the pandemic have an impact on the overall Phase 4 timeline, which has already been delayed for three years?
No, it will not affect the ongoing construction. The revenue problem is only about operating cost. There is absolutely no problem for the phase 4 lines, which are already sanctioned. But yes, the other three lines (Rithala-Narela, Inderlok-Indraprastha and Lajpat Nagar Saket corridors), which have not been sanctioned so far, will probably be slightly delayed because there is a guideline from the Center that no new projects will be planned. for a year.
.
