Namma Metro may be a blessing for lakhs of citizens, but it does have its pitfalls. The death of a toddler at Srirampura station and an alleged suicide attempt at National College station recently have underscored the need to improve safety measures for commuters at metro facilities.
“More security guards should be deployed near the tracks. Usually, two guards are stationed at the ends of the track in most stations. During rush hour, this is insufficient. Many commuters don’t alight in an orderly manner, creating chaos. If barricades are installed, such chaos may be mitigated to some extent,” said Mohammed, 29, an employee of a private firm.
However, it is also the responsibility of the commuters to be careful while using public transport facilities, said some other commuters.
Nirmala Ramadas, 60, who was waiting for a train at Majestic station, said, “The government and public transport authorities can only do so much. People should also exercise caution.”
The escalators at Majestic Interchange station are mostly crowded throughout the day. Many commuters, who are in a hurry to catch the next train on another line, rush towards the escalators.
“Some commuters lack the necessary knowledge for using the service. However, other people are not very patient with such commuters. In a hurry to catch their train, they shove such commuters. A few commuters can even be seen keeping their bags on escalators,” said Nooruddin Saleem, 59, a businessman, who added that a little patience and consideration for other commuters will go a long way.
Officials of Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL) have taken stock of the situation following the death of the toddler at Sriramapura station.
“We already have several safety measures in place. We will, however, once again revisit the issue to ensure that such unforeseen incidents do not recur,” said B.L. Yeshwanth Chavan, chief public relations officer, BMRCL.
The guards at metro stations often face the wrath of passengers who are told to maintain a line at the time of boarding and to stay away from the tracks. A female guard at Majestic station said, “Just this evening, a man verbally abused me and picked a fight when I asked him to stand in a queue to board the train. He accused me of being rude and loud. They don’t realise I am just doing my job and protecting them from any kind of mishap.”
Another guard, at South End station, pointed out that often commuters don’t listen to them. “Some people walk with their head down, texting or looking at their phone. If something happens to them, we are held responsible for not warning them. Commuters should have some kind of responsibility while waiting for trains.”