I knew a Metro ride in Delhi was no more fun. But I did not expect it to be a shocking experience. Last Saturday, my father and I were on our way home from a popular shopping destination, Karol Bagh.
Stating that people were packed in the Metro compartment like sardines would be an understatement. Before we could decide whether to take an auto instead, I was pushed into the Metro by the crowd. When I realised that my father had not boarded the train, I tried in vain to get out of it. Finally, I used my fists and managed to sneak out.
Now that I was out, I was shocked to see that people were still trying to get in.
The train was getting delayed as people were not allowing its doors to close in an effort to get into the compartment. Finally, when the doors closed, someone asked the Metro driver to reopen the doors as his belongings got stuck inside the train due to the commotion. It was more surprising as immediately after the train left the platform, another one that was relatively empty came in. We boarded this one, but I was still thinking about the previous train.
I had seen a couple with a small child get into the previous Metro. I was worried about how the child would manage in this kind of commotion, more importantly, if he would be able to breathe inside the packed compartment.
Delhi Metro is no doubt a gift to the city, but it is merely a little drop in a huge desert. I was wondering whether the couple would have stayed back if the public address system had announced the impending arrival of the next train. I have never travelled by Mumbai locals, but I have heard that it is pretty much like a war zone. Delhi Metro, too, is turning out to be very similar. This is just the beginning. You could expect more chaos when all its lines become fully functional.
