New Delhi: The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said on Thursday (Oct 1) that increased footfalls on various routes during rush hours can lead to long lines outside stations and even door closings if it continues.
“In recent days, it has been observed that certain sections of the Metro network are showing a trend in which occupancy is touching the 100 percent mark during the morning and night rush hours,” said Anuj Dayal, Executive Director of Corporate Communications of DMRC.
These routes include Dilshad Garden-Shastri Park, Mundka-Kirti Nagar, Kirti Nagar-Mandi House, New Bus Adda-Dilshad Garden, and Escorts Mujesar-Badarpur.
He further said: “Considering that, during off-peak hours, the occupancy in the same sections is in the range of 30-50% only, leaving a wide margin for people to stagger their trip from peak hours to the extent of as much as possible and have social distancing travel instead. “
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“This pattern during peak hours, if it continues, and is repeated in the other sections also in the coming days, can generate long queues outside the stations due to the regulated entry that is essential to ensure social distancing within the facilities of the station and the closing of doors, etc., which further increases the travel time and inconvenience during the trip, “he said.
To provide better occupancy in the changed scenario, DMRC has introduced the frequency of trains in the peak hours of 8 a.m. M. At 8 p. M., Eliminating the concept of non-peak hours from 11 a.m. M. At 4 p. M., where services were available with fewer trains / trips before. .
The DMRC advisory asked travelers “to avoid unnecessary travel as much as possible and stagger travel times to office / home / other jobs as much as possible to ‘break the peak’ for their own convenience and a more judicious utilization of the capacity and occupancy offered by the DMRC to the public under the new rules. “
The DMRC also asked the general public to “break the peak” by staggering their travel schedules to decongest peak hours and take advantage of the additional capacity available during off-peak hours for their own convenience and safety amid the Corona pandemic.
“Since the resumption of services, people have cooperated extensively with the DMRC and followed the new established travel protocols, resulting in line utilization in the range of 9-10 lakhs in recent days, which is in line with current expectations and requirements for social distancing, “added the DMRC.
Notably, the Delhi Metro resumed full-fledged operations from September 12, 2020 onwards with new social distancing rules due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has significantly reduced the number of people to be transported in a train (occupancy) that should be around a fifth of the above capacity to ensure social distancing.
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