Chawri Bazar, Chandni Chowk Metro stations first to get platform screen doors

New Delhi: With increasing ridership and instances of people falling or jumping on Metro tracks to commit suicide, the Delhi Metro faces a difficult task of manning crowd at its stations.

To make things easier, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) installed platform screen doors (PSDs) at Chawri Bazar and Chandni Chowk Metro stations.

DMRC officials said the move was primarily a part of its attempts towards crowd management which would also aid in avoiding potential harm to passengers through suicide attempts.

"These PSDs were formally made operational by Mangu Singh, Managing Director of DMRC, by putting the "switch on" from the control room of the Chandni Chowk Metro Station," DMRC statement read.

According to the DMRC statement: "This is the first time that the Metro has installed PSDs in already existing operational Metro stations. The PSDs are a barrier between the platform and the tracks.

"PSDs will help in better crowd management at these busy stations and at the same time prevent any untoward incidents in the Metro, like jumping or falling on the tracks. In addition, this will give a feeling of safety to passengers, particularly at crowded stations, against accidental falling onto the tracks or deliberate attempt at self harm."

DMRC official said that a lot of integration was required with various components of Metro operations for smooth installation of PSDs.

"The software was required to be upgraded for coordinated movement of the doors. The movement of commuters was also regularised during the day where PSD installation was in progress official," an official added.

Four other stations of this line - New Delhi, Central Secretariat, Rajiv Chowk and Kashmere Gate - will also have these PSDs in coming days.

The installation and commissioning of PSDs at these four stations will be done gradually in a phased manner after examining the performance at Chandni Chowk and Chawri Bazar stations.

Apart from the Airport Express Line, such doors are already functional from day one of the opening of Botanical Garden to Kalkaji Mandir section of Line-8 and Majlis Park to Durgabai Deshmukh South Campus section of Line-7.