Saturday’s metro story: a trade fair and a crowd

On Saturday evening, the Metro trains looked somewhat like overcrowded local passenger trains with people pushing and shoving each other thanks to the ongoing India International Trade Fair at Pragati Maidan.

On Saturday evening, the Metro trains looked somewhat like overcrowded local passenger trains with people pushing and shoving each other thanks to the ongoing India International Trade Fair at Pragati Maidan.

HT Image

The rush was such that many people had to take either an auto or a bus home.

Saturday registered 12.14-lakh ridership till 8 pm, about 40,000 higher than last Saturday. The footfall at the Pragati Maidan station crossed 1.10 lakh, said DMRC officials.

At the Rajiv Chowk, thousands of commuters stood in queue but couldn’t board the train as it was already jam-packed.

“Situation was too tough to handle during evening hours. However, we somehow managed the situation without a lathicharge or taking any stern steps,” said a CISF official deputed at the station.

However, some commuters complained about mismanagement at the metro stations.

“The rush was expected. But they failed to manage rush,” said Jatin Shastri, who somehow managed to come out of the station with his two sons after missing five trains towards Saket.

“Trains on most lines ran at two-minute intervals but the Gurgaon bound ones were running slow. Passengers waiting for Gurgaon-bound trains were adding to crowd,” said a DMRC official in the Rajiv Chowk station.