NOIDA: Aqua Line recorded a footfall of 9,210 on Tuesday, the highest since Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC) resumed its services after the lockdown exactly three months ago. Since September 7, when metro operations restarted on the route and the day’s passenger count was 600, the daily ridership has increased by about 15 times.
Before the lockdown, NMRC’s average daily ridership was 28,000, an official said. With several people staying indoors, working from home and students attending classes online, most modes of public transportation have recorded a dip in the number of passengers.
But metro remains one of the preferred mode of transportation, in fact, more people are using the services now compared to a few months ago, according to officials.
“The NMRC is encouraging contact-less interaction with commuters and access through smart cards and QR codes using its mobile application. Wearing masks is a must,” said Ritu Maheshwari, managing director, NMRC.
After about five months of lockdown, Noida metro services resumed on September 7 and on that day, it recorded a footfall of 600. But the services were limited to a few trains plying within a specific time bracket in the morning and evening.
On September 12, NMRC restarted its full service and on that day, Aqua Line registered a ridership of 2,148.
Since then, the highest footfall was recorded on November 9 (7,165).
With about 9,000 commuters using Aqua Line daily, it is still operating at one-third of its actual capacity, if pre-lockdown figures are considered.
“The ridership figures are gradually increasing and it indicates how travelling between Noida and Greater Noida is becoming more normal,” said an NMRC official.
Aqua Line passes through 10 stations between Noida and Greater Noida, Sector 51, 76, 101, 81, 137, 142, Knowledge Park II, Pari Chowk, Alpha I and Delta I.