Metro prefers 'smart' commuters

Special treatment for cardholders, token users left in the lurch

Smart card users are set to become a gated-community with the Delhi Metro.
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The DMRC has come out with a rather shortsighted solution to counter the overcrowding at Metro stations. It has announced the installation of special steel-framed gates near selected Automated Fare Collection (AFC) facilities, specifically for smart card holders.

Official sources in the operations department say the scheme is skewed. "The overcrowding at the Metro stations isn't because of commuters not using smart cards. It is because over 60 per cent of the token counters have been shut and automatic fare collection gates are not working properly," said the official who wished not to be identified.u00a0

Delhi Metro currently has ridership of over 9.5 lakh commuters per day. More than 60 per cent of the commuters are smart card users.u00a0 "The overcrowding doesn't happen at entry AFC gates. It's mainly at token counters and exit AFC gates," said the official who wished not to be identified.u00a0

u00a0"Across the network, the number of AFC facilities remain almost the same since the Metro launched its services, while the number of passengers has gone up astronomically. The commuters experience problems while accessing the AFC gates and they often go out of order," he added.

Aditya Raghav an engineer who lives in east Delhi and is a regular Metro commuter said, "The real problem is of manpower shortage. You will hardly see queues to access the AFC gates, but you will see people lined-up near the token counters. Instead of increasing the manpower for smooth operation, the Delhi Metro has reduced the number of its employees at Metro stations."

However, Delhi Metro explains that the step was taken based on feedback received from smart card users that they were getting unnecessarily delayed at the entry and exit points because token users (mostly irregular or first time users) were taking time to get acquainted with the system.

The first such seven-foot long steel-framed gate has already been installed at the Barkahmaba Road Metro station on a trial basis offering quicker exit to smart card users.

Token users will be able to use the remaining gates. Two more such gates are planned at the Rajiv Chowk station. The traffic movement at other stations is being closely monitored to decide whether such gates are a feasible option.

"People are generally sceptical of investing money in smart cards. Also, it's not the most cost-effective option, offering 10 per cent savings. It should be made more lucrative," a Metro official said.