Many compelled to miss classes ahead of crucial exams
Many compelled to miss classes ahead of crucial exams
Winters are here in Delhi. So is the nip in the air, the fog and the Metro rush. And the hardest hit are students of Delhi University. Examinations are near and it is the peak time for classes ahead of the winter break. But the youngsters are having a hard time commuting to the campus from far flung areas of the city.
Train of thought: Commuters standing near a train on Line 3 of the
Delhi Metro. This is the longest line on Phase 1. Pics/Rajeev Tyagi
Since the Metro has reached Gurgaon, there has been a massive increase in everyday traffic. The onset of winters has added to the number of commuters, as many are seeking refuge in the more comfortable environs of the Metro rather than brave the hazy and hazardous Delhi roads with a bone-chilling breeze fro company. Consequently, many Delhi University (DU) students claim they are forced to miss classes, particularly in the morning.
Losing ground
A group of students have handed a written complaint to the Proctor of the varsity as well as to the Delhi University Students Union (DUSU). Transit stations like Rajeev Chowk and Kashmiri Gate have become so crowded these days that passengers have to wait for up to half an hour to get into a train. Statistics show that over 4 lakh people are using the Rajeev Chowk station for transit every day.u00a0
"We have been receiving complaints from students regarding the increased Metro traffic and also the harassment due to it. We have decided to put the matter forward to the Vice-Chancellor's office and take appropriate measures. A major chunk of students who commute via the Metro on a daily basis, complain of missing their classes frequently because of enormous traffic," said Priya Dabas, Vice-President, DUSU.u00a0u00a0
Morning show
Reaching on time to catch the 9.30 am class has become a huge struggle for 18-year-old Rwick Sen of Hansraj College. "I am an outstation student. I do not have any suitable mode of conveyance except the Metro. But, things have changed. Long delays, huge traffic and ridicule if one inadvertently steps into the women's compartment to catch the train when running out of time - all this has turned the Metro into a nightmare as that Delhi buses used to be at one point of time. Almost everyday I miss a class owing to the Metro mess. Things are getting out of hand," he said.
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Sit tight
"The traffic in Metro these days is unbearable. Even after having a separate women's coach, there is no relief. It has been ages since I sat and traveled. Now I have to miss a train or two every day as there is not even an inch of space to even stand.
Also the frequency of trains is terribly low; sometimes one has to wait 15 minutes for the next train to arrive. I have been continuously missing classes over the past couple of days because of this mess. Don't know who is to blame," said Anjana Mukherjee, 19, a second year Commerce student in Daulat Ram College who commutes daily from Rajouri Garden to Vishwavidyalya Metro station.
Some of the teachers on campus also share the woes of the students. "Metro is havoc these days. I have stopped commuting seeing the rush, especially during morning hours. I have started coming to college in my car nowadays. Technical snags and long delays have become synonymous with the Delhi Metro," said Mansi Sinha, lecturer, Khalsa College.
| DMRC to hit a six |
| Delhi Metro will start inducting six-coach trains on the Dwarka-Noida corridor by the end of this month to ease the rush. With the overall ridership crossing 16 lakh last month, overcrowding on Metro trains has become a perennial problem, especially during the morning and evening peak hours. |
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| 'A Matter of of time' |
| When contacted, a Delhi Metro spokesperson said that testing for the introduction of six-coach trains is underway. "By the end of this month, Delhi Metro would introduce six-coach trains on Dwarka-Noida Line. It would help in reducing the overcrowding on the network. As far as Gurgaon- Jehangirpuri Line is concerned, trials are being conducted. Six- coach trains would be introduced on the network early next year," he added. When confronted on the issue of recent technical glitches, resulting in overcrowding and officer-goers reaching late, he said: "It is being looked into. Experts have been engaged to identify and rectify the problem." |
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