The implementation of the odd-even scheme on the first full working day on Monday did not result in any noteworthy jump in the Delhi Metro’ ridership. Although at 28,19,657, the figure was a good two lakh above the average daily ridership of 26 lakh, Metro officials say it was nothing unusual as every first working day of the week sees such large passenger volume. Tuesday’s figures were even lesser and stood at 28,19,657.
As per official data, three of the last five working Mondays saw more passengers travelling on the network than Monday. On December 21, ridership had touched 28,88,128. On Blue Line (Line 3/4), considered as one of the most busiest corridors, four of the five Mondays had saw more ridership. On December 21, it was 10,61,814 as opposed to Monday’s 10,09,105. The 51-km-long section connects Noida City Centre and Vaishali to Dwarka Sector 21.
On Monday, a picture showing a jam-packed Rajiv Chowk Metro station went viral on social media prompting Delhi Metro Rail Corporation chief Mangu Singh to clarify that it was an old image. “Delhi Metro was successful in handling the expected huge rush on all its lines, on the first working Monday of the year. All necessary measures were already planned in advance and were in place to manage any additional rush of passengers. All lines and stations were thoroughly monitored throughout the day,” DMRC said in a statement.
During the 15-day odd-even trial, DMRC has planned to run 70 additional trips daily taking the total figure to 3,192 to handle passenger rush. The ridership till 8 PM rose by nearly 2 lakh to 21,26,515 lakh as compared to Tuesday last.
Over 41 lakh commuters travelled by Delhi Transport Corporation buses in the national capital on the fourth day of implementation of odd-even car rationing scheme. “A total of 41.63 lakh passengers travelled by the DTC buses on Monday. In the morning, a total of 5,391 buses were put into service for facilitating commuters,” said a DTC senior official.
The DTC helpline number on Tuesday received around 1,200 calls of which 1,124 were queries regarding availability of buses while remaining were suggestions and complaints, said the official, adding 25 calls were of suggestions, 57 of complaints, of which 40 were against autorickshaw, nine against buses and one against Gramin Sewa.
