Anticipating huge rush during the India International Trade Fair, the Delhi Metro will operate trains every 2 minutes from November 19 to 27 when the fair is open to the public and has set up additional ticket counters at the Pragati Maidan Metro station.
As over a lakh people used the Metro everyday to visit the fair last year, Delhi Metro hopes that the number will increase significantly this year as over 80 km has been added to the network since the beginning of this year.
Metro commuters can also purchase tickets to the fair at all 132 metro stations here.
Trains will run at a peak hour frequency of 2 minutes throughout the day from 08:00 am to 09:00 pm which means 23 additional trains will be pressed into service on all six operational lines.
“Over 100 extra train trips will be performed everyday during the fair,” DMRC spokesman Anuj Dayal said.
Trains run at a frequency of 2 minutes in peak hours and at a frequency of 3-4 minutes during in non-peak hours.
The fair will be opened to the public from tomorrow till November 27.
At the Pragati Maidan station, adjacent to the venue of the fair, a total of 43 manual token counters with separate counters for specific token denominations and destinations have been set up.
In weekends, the number of counters will go up to 52.
“To avoid overcrowding, all tokens will be sold from ground floor only. No tokens will be sold from concourse level,” Mr. Dayal said.
Additional Customer Facilitation Agents will be deployed at over-crowded stations like Rajiv Chowk, Kashmere Gate and Central Secretariat for managing crowd in ticketing area.
“Extra security guards are planned to be deployed at platforms, AFC gates, escalators, lifts, and token counters at Pragati Maidan on weekdays. For every token counter, there will be a security guard to streamline and control the crowd,” the spokesman said.
Directional signage to platforms, tokens, entry and exit points, security messages, system maps, fare charts, passenger information, last train and counter timings will also be put up at required locations.
Besides, permanent toilets have been built near Gate no 3 of the station and around 20 temporary kiosks to provide snacks and drinking water to the visitors.
To ensure faster security clearance of the commuters, additional Door Frame Metal Detectors and extra X-Ray machines will also be installed, Mr. Dayal said.
