I am writing some suggestions that have come to my mind after what I have noticed on the system through my experience of traveling on it for about 2 months. The details of the suggestions/actions could be worked out and submitted if required:
- It was noted that when someone loses the Metro Travel Card, the money in it gets lost or it is used by the person who finds it. The Metro cards are electronic devices and can be so programed that they are linked to the Debit/Credit Card through which they were purchased and/or they were last charged. In case of lost card the owner may inform the Metro after identifying herself/himself through the same Debit/Credit Card and ask Metro to block the card and transfer the money to the new card. If the lost card is used by anyone in future it may sound an alarm to the Metro staff that the card is a ‘Blocked Card’.
- There is a ‘Yellow’ line marked on the platform by a line of tiles at a distance of about 2 ft parallel to the track and passengers are expected not to cross this line till the train stops. The announcements at the PA system keeps asking commuters to stay behind this ‘Yellow’ line till the train does not come to a stops. Often the passengers do not listen to this or follow it. Since these are special tiles which mark the line, these may be got so designed that they have a text written on them –“Cross after Train Stops”. Such a writing on the tiles would be observed and will have higher compliance.
- Staff Dragging the Barriers: The staff keeps a stainless barrier across the stairs or the lift when these are under repair. These do not have rubber fitted at the lower legs and it also does not have wheels. The staff often drags it on the floor when moving it from one place to another and damage the floor. It may be fitted with rubber pads at the legs or may have wheels so that the flower does not get damaged.
- Broken Tiles: At the landings of the staircase one finds broken tiles. These do not get replaced quickly and one has to negotiate these broken tiles for days. The staff may be sensitized to keep a watch and get them repaired quickly as that would help passengers and Metro both. The broken tiles end up getting the adjoining tiles damaged.
- Support at the Steps:
- The support at the staircases have to be maintained so that one can hold it while going up or going down. I have seen stations where these have remained broken/damaged for weeks (last 2 weeks).
- It is also noted that there are 4-5 steps before the start of main staircase/escalator and there is no support railing there. One has to negotiate it without any support.
- Water on the Stairs during rains: The floor and staircases have granite or tiles and these become very slippery when it rains as these are not protected from rain. Having a small ‘Ledge’ over could provide relief. Fortunately there is staff which wipes the water out of these areas so the inconvenience is short lived.
- The outer concourse at some of the stations is rather dirty. These have to be maintained as clean as the system inside.
- It is noted that at some of the stations birds (mostly pigeons) get trapped at the highest floor of the Metro station. They remains there for days and dirty the place. These have to be checked at the ‘bird prone’ stations on daily basis and chased and let out or caught and left out.
- The different lines of Metro have color code. At the stations there are ‘foot print shaped’ markings to guide the passengers. These have to be inspected periodically so that these are replaced when they get worn out.
- Stations are well made and well kept, therefore, it is important that there is a laid down periodic schedule to inspect each and every item and to get it attended to so that these are maintained for times to come.
- Only a few of the stations have paid toilets. However, there is no marking to tell commuters which stations have these facilities. These may be indicated on the map itself through a color code or by a double underline mark etc.
- The information at the LED board at the station, at the Train and PA system have to be in sync and correct.
