Comments on: the delhi metro

By: Siddharth

Siddharth — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 01:26:19 +0000

KE, come on, avoid making assumptions before you post, and get out of the parochial “they don’t have AC and the tropics are unbearable” mindset.

I have rode Delhi Metro, NY Subway as well as the T in Boston, and Delhi easily sweeps both of the other two.

In regards to cameras, what exactly are the rules? I had no trouble taking pictures in elevated stations, but I don’t know if the rules change underground.

By: Karishma

Karishma — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 08:45:56 +0000

Gawd I hope I see this in NY!! Even growing up in Delhi hasn’t equipped me with the dexterity required to get on to NY metro. Have missed more than once! It’s madness!!

@KE –Have you travelled by the metro in Delhi? Did you know that Delhi metro is air conditioned too (A. obviously not!) . Thank you for drawing conclusions on something you have not even experienced.

By: Shefaly

Shefaly — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 21:21:56 +0000

Jenny, funnily there was a raucous dinner table discussion with friends just last night about the Delhi Metro. I was discussing the virtues of the complexity of the project and how France celebrated Sridhar, the guy who provided the leadership and direction. The others were saying this is the minimum we can do.

What can I say? Delhi Metro has been the only place in India where someone has said ‘sorry’ because his foot touched my trouser leg and where someone got up to give me his (yes!) seat because I was a woman.

And it is cheap. New rolling stock, a/c, vestibuled from the front to the last coach. What’s not to like?

Thanks for the post.

@ Vick: My experience has recurred so I do not think VIPs are needed. The city needed something essential to be proud of and this is it. You should also see how the Calcutta crowd behaves totally differently on Chowringhee and a few feet below it in the bowels of the Earth. But this observation is from 1994 so it may have changed.

By: Vick

Vick — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 18:27:30 +0000

I dont believe it. I will go and check it out myself. Or may be some VIP was visiting that day so things were different. We delhites dont change that easily.

By: Thangjam

Thangjam — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 06:25:39 +0000

The Delhi metro too has air conditioning. On the deodorant issue…well…the deo might not work in spite of the AC. Sigh. I wish people would use effective deos…

But the orderly line you saw was the result of some monitoring on the part of the metro officials…reminded me of kindergarten the way the guy with the baton told people to Q-up! maybe you’d like that footage too

By: mumbaikar

mumbaikar — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 13:31:03 +0000

To be fair to the folks in Bombay, the local train network handles a world record amount of people. “….The busiest segment, 60 km between Churchgate terminus and Virar, carries almost 900 million passengers per year. The annual traffic density, about 255 million passenger-km per km of route, is believed to be the world record for passenger rail transport…” “…This has resulted in what is known as Super-Dense Crush Load of 14 to 16 standing passengers per square metre of floor space….”

More here ..”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mumbai_Suburban_Railway#World_record_passenger_traffic_density”

A glimpse “http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YncwJaLJogg&feature=related”

By: vinu

vinu — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 08:29:15 +0000

of women using their babies like a quarterback uses his blockers.

ha Ha loved that description! Come to Mumbai and catch a train. Its ultimate chaos …

By: Sharmishtha

Sharmishtha — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 17:26:02 +0000

You’re liars and I don’t believe your photoshopped pictures either, showing us a world turned upside down. Delhi-ites standing in line?! What’s next? Delhi men not leering at women or pinching their bottoms?

By: anannyad

anannyad — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 12:57:01 +0000

Admirable. Mumbai train commuters, please observe and learn. After all, we Mumbai folks always pride our selves to be more organised than Delhi.

By: KE

KE — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 17:29:36 +0000

I’m sorry to mention this, but I’d be concerned about the deodorant issue (and not just in India, but in any third world country where you are forced to be in a confined place in close quarters).

Then of course, combine the lack of deodorant with the tropical heat and that ride must not be enjoyable.

So, I don’t think this metro is up to par with new york’s yet because in new york subways, you have air conditioning and most people will be wearing deodorant.

Trust me, it makes a huge difference.