Metro commuters want more services beyond Dum Dum

Commuters who ride the North-South Metro from Dakshineswar and Baranagar are demanding an increase in the number of trains to improve the frequency of services and make buses less crowded during peak hours.

Two years after Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended the Blue Line by 4 km from Noapara to Dakshineswar, the number of Up and Down trains passing through this section daily is 172, while the rest of the line between Dum Dum and Kavi Subhas has 288 trains.

“Though Dakshineswar and Barangar serve a large number of commuters to the city from the northern suburbs, the service is woefully inadequate. At peak times, even waiting at the station is torture. It is overcrowded and trains do not run on time,” said Ipsita Saha, a resident of Bally and a daily commuter from Dakshineswar station.

On a visit to the Baranagar Metro station, which shares the load of passengers from North 24 Parganas, Hooghly and Howrah, it was found that the station was overcrowded. The anxiety among passengers was palpable as the arrival of the Kavi Subhas (New Garia) bound train was at 12:09 p.m. But the train finally arrived at 12:21.

"I narrowly missed the last train. He left the station at 23:59. Trains are scheduled to run at 10-minute intervals during peak hours. But the frequency is 22 minutes. Imagine the plight of those trying to use the Metro during off-peak hours when there are even fewer trains,” said Sankar Prasad Chatterjee, marketing manager of the Park Street firm.

“We were so happy when the metro came to Baranagar and Dakshineswar. We would like to be treated the same as commuters from stations beyond Dum Dum. If they run trains at 6 minute intervals, why can't we have another run at least 10 minutes later? wondered Soumi Basu, a college student. The footprints are increasing every day. Baranagar station registers an average of around 12,000 passengers and Dakshineswar 18,000. A year ago, the two stations recorded around 9,000 and 14,000 average footfalls respectively.

A senior Metro Railway official said, “We understand that there is a huge rush at these two stations that connect the city to the districts. But services can't be added until we get more rakes." The official explained that digging takes 4 km back to Dakshineswar from Noapara collapse".  Maintaining better frequencies will only be possible if we have more rakes in hand," she said.

The metro currently has 31 rakes. New Dalian rakes are ready to be added to her fleet, with four more awaiting shipment from China's CNR Dalian Locomotive & Rolling Stock Co.