A Beginner’s Guide to Travelling in Delhi Metro
|Delhi Metro is a boon to people of Delhi and tourists who visit the capital city of India. The first metro rail in Delhi started operations in 2002 and today Delhi Metro has extended its services to satellite cities of Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurgaon and Faridabad. The work on the 3rd phase is still on, which covers inner and outer ring road of the city.
Delhi Metro is the most efficient, safe and pollution free mode of transport in and around Delhi. Despite its getting crowded during peak hours, Delhi Metro remains the most preferred mode of commuting in and around the city.
It is not very difficult to spot a metro station as the signage displaying Delhi metro stations are quite prominent, moreover you can take help of a passerby or an auto driver. Most metro stations are well connected by a DTC bus, metro feeder bus, auto rickshaw and cycle rickshaw. Once you reach a metro station expect security check similar to one you undergo in an airport. The security system is modern and your bags go through a scanner box.
There are separate queues for males and females at all metro stations. Each metro station has proper signage and maps displaying metro routes, ticket counter and other useful information. Announcements are made both in Hindi and English.
Delhi Metro uses a coin like token as tickets and Metro Travel/Smart Card for travelling in Delhi Metro. These tokens (tickets) are purchased from ticket counters. You can check Delhi Metro Fare List to know about fare structure and actual fare from one metro station to another. Please make a note that you cannot enter and exit a metro station without a token. You cannot take this token with you after your journey is over. In case this token is lost during the journey, you will have to pay the fine. As a rule eating is not allowed on Delhi Metro and photography is also prohibited.
Each metro train has a ‘Ladies Only’ coach at one end, reserved for women. Male passengers are not allowed to travel inside this coach. Ladies may take boys up to the age of 12 years in this coach with them.
All metro trains are fully air-conditioned and there are surveillance cameras inside each coach. Some seats are reserved for ladies and senior citizens in general coaches. Besides electronic boards that display information about metro stations, regular announcement is also made both in Hindi and English. DMRC (Delhi Metro Rail Corporation) runs 6 or 8-coach trains on various Delhi metro routes depending on the route and rush hour.
Do expect to see crowd marshals in stations like Rajiv Chowk and Yamuna Bank to manage the crowd. There can be some jostling especially during peak hours, when boarding and alighting from the trains.
Delhi Metro is not immune to break downs, power outages and petty crimes like pick pocketing. While you can do little with breakdowns and power outages but you can keep your belongings safe by taking normal precautions.
Suggested Readings:
Delhi Metro Route Guide
Travel Smart: Use Delhi Metro Smart Card
Delhi Metro Fare List
Airport Metro Express