Being a student of Delhi University and a resident of NCR, the daily comfort and convenience by which I have been travelling to college for more than two years now would not have been possible without the revolutionary invention of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation. Hesitant at first because of my unavoidable confusing road sense, today, I cannot imagine my journey to any place, near or far in the city, or its neighboring places without it. The metro has shaped me into a more confident, excited and spontaneous traveler than I confess to be and despite my level of laziness, I could not have asked for a better means of transportation in Delhi.
Every year, there are millions of newbies who may need to begin their journey but remain doubtful for not being as aware or assured of the delightful and not-so-delightful facts of this wonderful creation just yet, which could be of help. Thus, having gained enough knowledge from my own experiences, here are some of the things that I feel, every daily commuter through Delhi metro should know:
1. Delhi Metro Smart Card
First and foremost, if you’re a soon-to-be daily passenger of metro, it’s imperative that you buy a Metro Smart Card or Travel Card for a hassle-free journey. You can recharge it once with the amount you feel suitable for yourself (starting from Rs.100-200) and use it for multiple journeys based on the value available on it. They not only help you save your time and efforts in waiting at long queues for tokens, but also let you save money by providing a 10% discount each day.
2. Avoid the Rush Hours
Nobody likes to travel in overcrowded compartments where you’re most likely to get stuffed, pushed or worse- stepped on by someone’s big foot. To avoid being the victim of such situations, try traveling by the clock if you can. With the rush hours being from 8 – 10 am in the morning and 6 – 8 pm in the evening, try starting a little early from your destination, if possible. The early birds get a wonderful reward- a comfortable seat and more air to breathe in.
3. Travel Buddies
Traveling long distances can be boring after a few minutes. To make your journey fun, try traveling with a companion. If they aren’t available, make music or a novel your best friend and feel the difference. Watch time fly in front of your eyes as you plug in those earphones and get immersed in a world of your own.
4. When a Metro gets stuck
Don’t get jumpy if the metro stops in the middle of your journey. It’s very normal for the metro to stop or slow down at stations like Qutub Minar, Kirti Nagar or any other, sometimes. It doesn’t mean that the metro’s dysfunctional or that you’ll be stuck on the bridge for hours. The worse possibility is of making you a minute or two late, but would you rather consider being stuck in a road traffic jam for hours in the heat, with absolutely no way out? I don’t think so.
5. One Metro with more than just one Final Destination
Before boarding the metro, understand that being at the right platform might not get you where you need to go. It will only get you closer, for every metro that arrives on that very same platform is required to reach two or more destinations and will thus, have it written/announced before arriving. Thus, check before you sit. For instance, a Qutub Minar metro will not take you to Huda City Centre and a Noida City Centre one will not reach Vaishali. It’s best to avoid such mistakes.
6. Beware of the large crowds
There are a number of Lines having various stations for different places in Delhi. To board a metro for a different line, there are a few Inter-change stations with the major ones being Rajiv Chowk, Central Secretariat and Kashmiri Gate. However, step with caution. These are the stations where you’d consistently struggle to get through the huge chaos of people coming at you like a bullet at any time of the day. So, make sure to keep all your essentials inside and don’t lose anything, especially yourself.
7. Women’s Compartment
There’s a reserved ‘women’s only’ compartment at the end of each metro to provide a better comfort level and convenience to all. However, there will be times when you would be forced to shift ‘a little more’ on your seat despite having no space left for the one who decided to sit with you. Kindly keep your cool with a ‘chalta hai’ attitude. While playing games or texting, you may even have someone peeking into your phone from behind, trying to make use of their free time as much as they can. Kindly spare them. (If possible)
8. The Delhi Metro App
To make your travel smoother, download the Delhi Metro Mobile App, which gives you every bit of route information regarding everything about the metro you need to board for your destination. You can also recharge your metro card on the DMRC website or download a Delhi Metro Map to avoid any confusion.
9. Travel Snack Eateries
To grab a coffee to help you stay awake during an early morning lecture or eat on the go while you’re on your way back home, many metro stations have provided us with the irresistible advantages of eating joints like Café Coffee Day and WH Smith or a substantial food court with plenty of varieties like those at Epicuria, Nehru Place, Rajiv Chowk and Huda City Centre metro station.
Therefore, in comparison to other public transportations like buses, autos or cabs, metro continues to remain a boon and the most favourable and safest option for all. You’ll be surprised at how it turns out more than just a form of conveyance but a possible destination for a collection of memories and new acquaintances for all.
Happy traveling!
Featured Image Credits: www.subways.net
Shagun Marwah
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