A Step toward becoming a Developed Country. Review on Delhi Metro Rail Corporation

Metro Rail is an electronic train which runs on electricity. Delhi's decision to go for this initiative is a big step towards modernization of India and making it a ''Developed Country'' from the status of a ''Developing Country''.

When I was a kid, I used to see in the television and used to read in the books about the superfast trains in Europe and US and then in Japan. These trains run on electricity, I learnt and used to wonder why we can't have it in our Country.

Recently when I was in Netherlands, I experienced those trains. You have inter and intra city trains, then you have trains from Amsterdam to London, Paris, Belgium, Germany at a very nominal cost (around 20 Euros to 70 Euros depending on the distance). And I saw many people preferring to go by train to these places rather than going by Air. Infact even if it takes half an hour by air, you have to reach to the airport 1 hour in advance, then the locations of the airports etc. Moreover these trains are very fast and very comfortable. There I found them having two sections (like a double decker). There were two sections I class and second class and you have all newspapers in both the classes. Ok, then while moving in those trains, I was dreaming about my country, as I knew Metro project is going over in Delhi and something is happening. So I presumed perhaps the Metros will be of the same kind as I am experiencing here.

Delhi Metro is started but the project is still going on, is not complete and would be complete by 2007. Right now there are three routes:

1. Dwarka to Barakhamba Road

   
   




2. Central Secretariat to Delhi University

   
   




3. Rithala (Rohini) to Kashmere Gate

   
   

My first trip

I planned to experience Delhi Metro last week and thus decided to go to Connaught Place from my House with my wife and daughter. Infact we were planning this for the last one month but somehow or the other it was getting postponed (not cancelled!). And last of all we were able to make it!

Getting there and the ticketing process

I knew nothing about how to get the tickets and what all is the procedure to get into the train. I picked up my car, parked it at the Metro Station, climbed up the stairs since it was above the main road, and thanks god! got a ''Can I assist you Booth''. Asked him about the fair, the process, the validity of ticket, the permissible duration, till what time trains are available etc. etc. etc.! and got the replies very comfortably.

Cost of the ticket was Rs. 12/- per head (so I estimated it as Re 1/- per stand since it was the 12th stop from my stop including my stop). This ticket is nothing but a plastic token valid for 2 hours overall and for 20 minutes on that station from where you buy it and where you plan to land.

So asked him to issue me three tokens and was told to go to the ticket window which was separate and buy tokens from there.

How to get into the Train

Now you have to cross security check, where the policemen will physically check the persons and the luggage (since there was no lady police so only I was physically checked, my wife's purse was checked). After this you swipe your token on an electronic board and the iron rods will move in to give you the way to get into the station. So each person has to swipe his/her token to get in. There are multiple entries here.

After getting in, I got to know that my train will be on platform no. 1 which is further one floor up, so got into the lift, pressed P to reach to the platform, and reached platform no.1 where I was supposed to travel my first ride in my indian metro.

After exact 4 minutes my train arrived, as usual in Delhi, wherever you go, whatever time, you will get crowd everywhere. So this was not an exception. The train stopped, electronic doors opened automatically, we got in and there was comfortable standing space available. seating was almost full, many persons were standing too.

What Next

As I told earlier, it was exactly 11th stoppage from my place (excluding my stop), and luckily after one stop my daughter got a seat. after 3 more stops me and my wife too got our seats. So started enjoying our journey of 15-20 minutes. Before every stop, there will be announcement for that stop and some cautionary points like ''be away from the doors'' etc. etc.

And at last

And at last very comfortably I reached to my destination, spent some good 4-5 hours there and came back by Metro in the night.

But one thing ...

Being Saturday, or due to some other reason, there were regular announcements regarding the last trip of the metro being one hour early than usual. Everyday it is at 10.30 in the night but for that day there was an announcement that the last trip will be at 9.30pm. As for the travellers for the day it was ok. But I was wondering if somebody is sleeping in his room throughout the day and has planned to take the metro at 10pm...... and when he reached there..... the last train is gone at 9.30pm.... and as per him the last train is supposed to be at 10.30......... but then this is Delhi, where people are always prepared for unexpected to happen. And infact chances of happening of unexpected here are more than the chance of happening of expected......

Anyways had a successful, satisfactory, safe journey