Installation of platform screen gates at six of the busiest underground stations of the Delhi Metro’s yellow line is all set to begin next month and expected to be operational by the latter half of the year.
After prolonged deliberation, the long-awaited technology is being implemented in an effort to obliterate the possibility of potential harm to passengers, accidental or deliberate, officials said.
“Although prototype work that entails constructing sample gates will commence in a few days, actual work at stations will start only in February. We don’t have a deadline as such, but the work will be over by the latter half of the year,” a Delhi Metro Rail Corporation spokesperson said.
The 1.7-metre high gates, which are already in place on the Airport Express Line, will come up at Central Secretariat, Rajiv Chowk, New Delhi, Chawri Bazar, Chandni Chowk and Kashmere Gate stations. The gates will lead to better crowd-management and optimum utilisation of platform space, as people will not stand scattered all over the platform in a bid to rush into the coaches, as they do now, an official said.
Apart from functioning as security feature, the gates will have advertisement panels to attract revenue. — PTI