Overcrowding in public transportation is a problem for a Delhi court, which has asked its Delhi Metro Rail Corporation for a paper on the subject (DMRC).
Only the Delhi Metro is still a lifesaver for the people of NCR thanks to its unparalleled connectivity and other amenities. However, the recent congestion in the coaches, particularly at the busiest times, has alarmed both travellers and officials. Here is what travellers have to express about their problems after a Delhi court requested a review from Delhi Metro Rail Conglomerate (DMRC) last week after expressing worry about the problem of overcrowded in the public transport system.
“I feel suffocated,”
Content analyst Manhar Singh Ahluwalia from Chhattarpur states, “I have to use the Metro to work because my office recently is in Gurugram. There is no other option for me; I am not relatively comfortable riding in a crowded vehicle. Being crowded also makes it harder for me to breathe because of my asthma, and occasionally I feel like I’m being suffocated. I schedule my journey ahead of time to avoid this, but that takes extra time away from my workday.
“I’d like to travel by car at a higher cost than by metro.”
The throng in the Metro is something I try to avoid as much as possible these days, says Akshita Panwar, a second-year student at Delhi University who lives in Greater Kailash. I would rather spend more money on a car than use the Metro to work to feel safer. Even though I ride on a coach reserved for women only, occasionally guys remain there. Furthermore, 95% of metro residents don’t use masks. When there aren’t enough seats and it’s too busy, I occasionally experience heart palpitations and find it difficult to relax by sitting down. I now find that when I travel alone, I avoid the Metro.
“To avoid crowds, I take the women’s only coach.”
According to Greater Noida-based analyst Manya Wats, “I travel to Gurugram for work. Since it’s preferable to travelling by car and getting stuck in gridlock every day, I’ll always have the choice of riding the Metro. Since they are typically less crowded, I normally take the last coach or the coach just for ladies. I still wear a mask if the buses are too crowded, even if my phobia of Covid-19 has lessened. Even though I’ve grown accustomed to packed metros, especially during rush hour, I still want to be on the lookout for pickpockets because they are a danger. Occasionally, if the coach I’m travelling inside is too crowded, I even must get off at a stop along the way for some air.
When the subway is busy, I stay away.
Front-end developer Mohit Singh Negi from Faridabad says, “Even though my workplace still is in Gurugram and riding the Metro would have been a more practical way for my everyday work commute, I don’t feel confident in a packed metro anymore. During rush hour, I make every effort to stay away from it. It is occasionally the only remaining choice, though, because of the gridlock in Delhi. He recalls an incident, saying, “I remember, just some time back, a middle-aged traveller started feeling breathless because of the congestion. She must get off at one of the stations in the area and hire an auto instead. Many people no longer feel safe in Metro.
A doctor’s words
Cardiologist Dr Amit Bhushan Sharma of Gurugram states that hypoxia is brought on by overcrowding and reduced oxygen levels. Your heart rate increases by 10 to 15 beat a minute when you’re surrounded by people as opposed to when you’re alone when you’re in a quiet setting. Try to avoid peak times by practising breathing techniques like Anulom Vilom. You can also relax by listening to soothing music.