Metro does its bit to inspire riders

Quotations, maxims are displayed on passenger information system inside the train

The long commute to work and back home again at the end of the workday can often be boring; but perhaps a motivational quote may help make it better.

In an attempt to inspire its passengers, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL) has started putting positive and uplifting quotes and sayings in its coaches.

Over the past few weeks, the passenger information system (PIS) inside the metro trains have been displaying messages such as: ‘Arise! Awake and stop not until the goal is reached’, ‘Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment’, and ‘Believe you can and you’re halfway there’.

These messages are displayed before the announcement of the next station. “The idea is to use the display area not to push any promotional advertising, but to plant an inspirational thought, or some evocative lines, or just a reflection on times today for people to ponder over,” said managing director of BMRCL Mahendra Jain.

BMRCL has selected around 15-odd quotes and messages that are displayed regularly. This initiative, which is not displayed on all trains, will be expanded after officials gauge the response from commuters.

“I saw one such quote while travelling between M.G. Road and Indiranagar. I had never seen it before on display boards, which usually carry information on rules and regulations, keeping the metro trains and stations clean, and so on. If they display long messages it will be difficult to read as the travelling time between two stations is short,” said Sirhari, a regular commuter.

Most of the messages are pithy. A BMRCL official said, “In addition to making announcements on approaching metro stations or terminal stations, we also have dos and don’ts for passengers and play videos of historical and tourist spots in the State. We thought of playing some notable quotes or messages which could be of interest to passengers. However, all the trains do not have this yet.”

BMRCL has experimented with several initiatives to improve the mood of passengers, including playing recordings of birds chirping at its stations and displaying poems.