"You want to get down?" I asked this lady who was struggling to somehow get rid of the crowd.
"Yes" she replied.
"It's Monday babe," I told her.
"So?" she questioned, a little bewildered.
"Nothing," I replied with a wicked smile.
This conversation took place while the metro we were in started from Pragati Maidan towards Yamuna Bank on blue line at 9 in the morning.
Now, those who travel to Noida via Metro everyday can relate very well with my wicked smile. Anyway, let's go ahead.
What happened next was the metro as usual reached Yamuna Bank. Doors opened and this lady now started striving to get out of the metro. Those who wanted to board, like always, did not bother about her.
"Please let me get down first," she shouted.
But crowd is not only blind, it's deaf and dumb too. No one listened to her. Nevertheless, this woman somehow managed to pave way for herself and finally got down. Doors were closed and the metro moved forward. Inside, the multitude was too high that one couldn't even think of making a little bit of movement. Bearing the heat (though metro comprises AC, but it could not be felt because of countless number of people standing almost over one another), a few minutes later, the metro reached Noida Sec-15 station. Here, the moment doors opened, women in the coach rushed to get down in a way as if they were freed from a cage.
Suddenly, a grief-stricken voice among those who deboarded was heard saying "Mera dupatta ander gir gaya hai, koi dhundh ke de do please."
I tried to recognise the face behind that voice and soon found this lady with half-open hair, huge eyes wearing green patiyala suit. While she was still pleading, someone advised, "Come inside and look for it before the doors are closed."
She immediately hopped in and started looking for it just like a thirsty person hopes for a well or pond in a barren land. Meanwhile, I saw some busy giggling about what happened to her. And, just to help her out, I started looking for her dupatta too.
While our search was on, a thought all at once struck my mind. "What if the crowd at Sec-15 would have taken away her dupatta?" I wanted to share it with her but before I could do that, a gentle lady stepped forward and offered 'her' her stole. I couldn't see her properly because of the crowd of course.
"You can keep it with you," the lady humbly said.
"Give me your number. I will return it," the worried lady responded.
Numbers were quickly exchanged and that was the last activity I witnessed regarding that dupatta.
The reason I am mentioning this incident is to raise a concern which is that Delhi Metro was meant to be a method of smart transportation, so that travelling is easy and more comfortable. However, it doesn't seem so. Metros frequently get delayed, technical glitches create havoc, the crowd at the platforms becomes impatient and the administration finds it impossible to deal with the crisis. All these things often take place.
But why are we so incapable to get over these things? Where does the actual problem lie? Is DMRC failing to serve people well or are people unable to follow and adapt it the right way? Who will find out? Whether we will ever get the answers?
Lastly, it's not about just Mondays. One can find it every other day. Thus, this issue needs to be resolved. The authorities concerned should start analysing the situations and take the necessary steps as soon as possible.
"Yes" she replied.
"It's Monday babe," I told her.
"So?" she questioned, a little bewildered.
"Nothing," I replied with a wicked smile.
This conversation took place while the metro we were in started from Pragati Maidan towards Yamuna Bank on blue line at 9 in the morning.
Now, those who travel to Noida via Metro everyday can relate very well with my wicked smile. Anyway, let's go ahead.
What happened next was the metro as usual reached Yamuna Bank. Doors opened and this lady now started striving to get out of the metro. Those who wanted to board, like always, did not bother about her.
"Please let me get down first," she shouted.
But crowd is not only blind, it's deaf and dumb too. No one listened to her. Nevertheless, this woman somehow managed to pave way for herself and finally got down. Doors were closed and the metro moved forward. Inside, the multitude was too high that one couldn't even think of making a little bit of movement. Bearing the heat (though metro comprises AC, but it could not be felt because of countless number of people standing almost over one another), a few minutes later, the metro reached Noida Sec-15 station. Here, the moment doors opened, women in the coach rushed to get down in a way as if they were freed from a cage.
Suddenly, a grief-stricken voice among those who deboarded was heard saying "Mera dupatta ander gir gaya hai, koi dhundh ke de do please."
I tried to recognise the face behind that voice and soon found this lady with half-open hair, huge eyes wearing green patiyala suit. While she was still pleading, someone advised, "Come inside and look for it before the doors are closed."
She immediately hopped in and started looking for it just like a thirsty person hopes for a well or pond in a barren land. Meanwhile, I saw some busy giggling about what happened to her. And, just to help her out, I started looking for her dupatta too.
While our search was on, a thought all at once struck my mind. "What if the crowd at Sec-15 would have taken away her dupatta?" I wanted to share it with her but before I could do that, a gentle lady stepped forward and offered 'her' her stole. I couldn't see her properly because of the crowd of course.
"You can keep it with you," the lady humbly said.
"Give me your number. I will return it," the worried lady responded.
Numbers were quickly exchanged and that was the last activity I witnessed regarding that dupatta.
The reason I am mentioning this incident is to raise a concern which is that Delhi Metro was meant to be a method of smart transportation, so that travelling is easy and more comfortable. However, it doesn't seem so. Metros frequently get delayed, technical glitches create havoc, the crowd at the platforms becomes impatient and the administration finds it impossible to deal with the crisis. All these things often take place.
But why are we so incapable to get over these things? Where does the actual problem lie? Is DMRC failing to serve people well or are people unable to follow and adapt it the right way? Who will find out? Whether we will ever get the answers?
Lastly, it's not about just Mondays. One can find it every other day. Thus, this issue needs to be resolved. The authorities concerned should start analysing the situations and take the necessary steps as soon as possible.
 |
| A crowded metro (Courtsey: Google) |
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