Crowds remain spread out on day 3 as interchange stations reopen

New Delhi: As the Delhi Metro's Blue and Pink line resumed services three days after the capital's mass transit system reopened its doors to the public, some of the most crowded stations pre-Covid-19 wore a deserted look.

With the 57 km Blue Line connecting Dwarka Sector 21 and Noida Electronic City/ Vaishali and 59 km Pink Line connecting Majlis Park and Shiv Vihar back in operation, even the interchange stations lacked the usual hustle and bustle despite nine of them now being available for service.

At Rajiv Chowk station, from where one can switch to the Blue Line, passenger footfall even during evening hours seemed sparse with mostly office-goers availing the facility. 40-year-old Suresh, who started from Jahingirpuri Station and is headed to Anand Vihar Station, said he is satisfied with the arrangements put in place. "The metro officials have done a good job in ensuring proper health protocols," he said.

Meanwhile, at the ticketing counter difficulties among people over online transactions persisted. 55-year-old TK Saraswat, travelling to Laxmi Nagar station on the Blue Line, said he forgot to bring his ATM card, an essential after DMRC disbanded cash facilities in order to curb the virus spread. "They shouldn't have discontinued the service as metro services are availed mostly by commoners who might not have bank accounts," he said.

Sitaram Gurjar, one of the metro officials manning Rajiv Chowk station said although the third day went well without any glitches, armed personnel at various stations have been expanded anticipating an increased footfall. A civil volunteer, however, said that only when all the corridors are thrown open and the time restrictions are relaxed from September 12 onwards, can one estimate the efficiency of the travel arrangements. "Since the train services reopened, only those with essential needs or those going for work have used the facility and they have largely adhered to all the protocols," he said.

At Dilli Haat-INA station, interchangeable to the Pink Line, passengers on the platform usually remained in single digits with only one CISF personnel supervising the arrangements. Pawan Kumar Singh, a government employee heading to Saket says the safety precautions inside the trains and station are up to the mark and despite the rising Covid cases he wouldn't trade metro for the 'costly bus and auto rides'. "Let's see how things pan out after all the lines open up,"

Singh said.

Similarly, Manish Verma (24), who works at a trading company, said it took him around Rs 400 to reach Bhikaji Cama Place on the Pink Line from his house in New Ashok Nagar and the reopening of services has come as a life-saver for him. Meanwhile, Rohit (24), travelling home to Faridabad said he didn't know the Violet Line was yet to resume and "had to take an autorickshaw".

At another interchange station, Mayur Vihar Phase 1, train compartments ran with around 20 passengers on board during the evening hours.