NOIDA: At 9,822, the Noida Metro on Monday saw its highest ridership since it resumed services after the lockdown. Prior to this, the metro had moved 9,210 people on December 8, which was the highest post-lockdown ridership till now.
After the government eased restrictions on movement, Aqua Line started functioning on September 7, but with only 600 passengers. Before the pandemic, around 28,000 riders would use the Noida Metro every day on an average.
“This is a sharp rise from last week and the largest single-day count we have registered so far since the lockdown. Noida Metro is encouraging contact-less interaction with commuters and access only through smart cards and QR codes using its mobile application. Wearing masks and following social distancing norms are a must,” said Ritu Maheshwari, managing director of Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC).
When Aqua Line resumed its services, the number of trains was limited to only a few and that too in a specific time bracket in the morning and evening. It started its full service on September 12, when the ridership was 2,148. Before December 8, the metro clocked its highest post-lockdown footfall on November 9 — 7,165.
With about 9,000 commuters using the Aqua Line daily, it is still operating at one-third its capacity, considering the pre-lockdown figures. “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. They are sectors 51, 76, 101, 81, 137, 142, Knowledge Park II, Pari Chowk, Alpha I and Delta I.