Delhi Metro - Mera Metro (Mumbai ka Paisa se)

Alt. Title : Delhi MRTS : Delhi Metro

Delhi has been given this swanky new metro rail service. It is still under construction and in the end (maybe in 2010) it would cover most areas of Delhi. Right now there is this underground service (Central Secretariat - Kashmere Gate - Delhi Vishvavidyala ) and an elevated stretch ( Rithala - Kashmere Gate - Shahadara). The elevated route is probably called the "Red Line" and the underground one is maybe called the "Yellow Line" or "Blue Line". This naming probably comes from the notorious Red Line and Blue Line buses that they have in Delhi. Hpwever, the pic alongside is at "Welcome" station (imagine the announcer saying "Welcome to Welcome" - this happens only in Delhi) which is just before Shahadara. Most Delhiites have probably not used this service, probably becasue they associate travelling by a local train as something undignified. Or probably they own cars or scooters. The vehicular population of Delhi is perhaps more than the human population.

A look at the "Economic Implications" in the pic above is rather hilarious. I dont know how these newly minted MBA's manage to come up with these figures of accidents and injuries prevented. They also say that the number of buses would go down, but I'm told that the success of the metro would only be possible when they start feeder bus routes from the metro stations to inner areas of the city. This would obviously mean more buses and not less. You can expect an MBA to come up with such absurdities.

Now most of the stations are extremely clean and well maintained (hardly anyone uses it). Lots of sign boards and directions all over the place and helpful staff all around. You have to buy a "token" (i.e. a ticket) (at a max fare of Rs. 11 it is indeed dirt cheap) and proceed towards the gates. You swipe the token and the barrier opens and you walk through. You then enter the platform areas. A smiliar swipe at the destination allows you to leave the platform. All this fancy things are fine if a few people travel- I dont know what would happen if 500 people/min. turn up. I had been told by a co-passenger on the 2951 that you should quickly get past the barriers since they close pretty fast. He also added that it does help if you are on the slimmer side, else you might get squished between the barriers. And a second swipe wont work, for the contraption would have recorded your passageway and the second swipe would be taken as a "misuse - of trying to travel twice". Nobody would believe that you had luggage and that it took a few seconds more to pass through the barrier, or that you were overweight and hence took longer than the programmed time. Anyway if you do get into this situation you have to call and plead with the supervisor - who after a lot of verifcation etc. would allow you to proceed on your way. (Perhaps keeping some 500's would be helpful here as is the case in any Govt. controlled area in India - especially Delhi) .

The services are punctual. This ought to be the case since the elevated and underground sections dont allow any scope for tresspassing and level crossings etc. which generally casue delays. The trains are also good - fully AC with doors opening and closing at stations. Also the trains have these LED indicator boards / Announcements that tell you which station is coming up and on which side. Infact you can see the entire stretch of the rake once you are inside the train. (People say that its just like the trains aborad - but the main intention of making such statements is to let you know that theyve been abroad and not you).

Delhiites also say that there was minimal obstructions to road traffic while the metro was being constructed. They say that many were unaware that such a large project was being built underneath. Infact theyve gone pretty deep inside and built the metro even below the foundations of most of old Delhi areas. Perhaps our MMRDA can learn some lessons on how to go about infrastructure construction activity without inconveniencing people. Im told the metro is being constructed by some Japanese company.

All this is very good. Perhaps it makes Delhi a showcase city of India. (They've got to get in shape before the Commonwealth Games - thats another reason). But lets get to the finances part and pose this question.

Q. Where did all this obscene amount of money come from ?
A. From the tax paid by Bombayites or Mumbaikars, who rough it out - day in and day out - in the super dense crush loads of the Karjat Fast, Dombivili Slow, Virar Fast, Churchgate Slow and CST Fast.