DMRC adopts ways to prevent suicide bids on Metro premises

In order to prevent people from committing suicide on its premises, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has decided to launch a public service initiative with the help of an Non-Government Organisation (NGO) to sensitise its frontline staff (those sitting at customer care and manning the stations) to identify such people in Metro premises and guide them to the volunteers of NGO for all possible help.

“Some sensitisation programmes ,we have done organised earlier also through which our staffs including the CISF staffs have found and prevented many people from their gestures and prevented them from attempting suicide. Further, railings are installed at 6 Metro stations on Laxmi Nagar, Preet Vihar, Vaishali, Akshardham, Kaushambi and Nirman Vihar on priority basis. Also, all the upcoming stations which are under process are equipped with advance screen gates to prevent the instances of suicide,” said a Senior Ranking DMRC official.

The Delhi Metro has also identified 19 stations as suicide prone area such as Seelampur, Janakpuri West, Rajendra Place, Dilshad Garden, RK Puram, Sultanpur, MG Road, Jahangirpuri, Kirti Nagar, Noida Sector 16, Govindpuri, Uttam Nagar East to name a few where the installation of additional railing is in the process which expected to be completed by this month.

Moreover, the DMRC is working on to put up posters and distribute literature to aware and teach the people about the importance of life and how the people under depression or suicidal tendencies can seek help of the Psychologist and counselors. The posters will have the contact number of an NGO’s helpline no. 011-23389090 on which people can get the help of psychiatrist and share their mental issues.

“The NGO is also planning to make this helpline no. 24X7 to help such people. We have also put up barriers on the platforms marking the area beyond which passengers are not allowed to go and guards deployed at stations are put on vigil to keep an eye on platform areas,” added the official. 

The helpline will work from 2pm to 10 pm on Monday to Friday and from 10am to 10 pm on weekends.