Over one lakh passengers have travelled in Lucknow Metro since its launch on Wednesday. According to LMRC MD Kumar Keshav, Lucknow Metro has got overwhelming response from Lucknowites, attracting 1, 07, 798 passengers in just four days of operations.
Keshav said, “This is an outstanding achievement as other Metros have not been able start their operations with token, smart card and the AFC system. In fact, the recently started Metros in India used paper tickets during initial days of public service on account of non-commissioning of fare collection system.”
LMRC has also provided the facility of automatic token vending machine (ATVM) and recharge card terminal machine (RCTM) to commuters from Day one. Passengers operate these terminals on their own to get their ‘token’ as per their desire of travel without waiting in long queues. This facility has never been started by any Metro in India during initial days of operation.
SOME UNIQUE SERVICES
Despite the technical glitches and trains getting stranded, Lucknow Metro trains are the most advanced in India with communication based train control (CBTC) signalling system which allows trains to operate ‘safely’ under any circumstance. Safety of passengers is the top most priority in LMRC.
According to MD Kumar Keshav, any new Metro faces teething problems in initial months.
HELPING HAND TO COMMUTERS
Metro staff is lending out a helping hand to commuters, ensuring that the passengers do not experience any inconvenience during their travel.
On September7, a boy named Pappu (10) got separated from his family while travelling in Metro at the Alambagh bus stand metro station. The station controller immediately reported this to the operation control centre (OCC). The OCC then made an announcement regarding the missing boy in the Metro trains and at all Metro Stations. Finally, the boy was reunited with his family.
On September8, the operations control manager at the Charbagh Metro station found one Ritesh Gautam (30) falling down unconscious near a water cooler at the station. The passenger was attended to on an urgent basis and was provided first aid. As a result, he regained consciousness and was immediately sent to Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Civil
OnSeptember9, a young user’s sandal got stuck between the escalator’s skirting .The safety mechanism of the equipment at Charbagh Metro station was activated and the escalator immediately stopped averting any mishap. The escalator is designed to stop in case of any such emergency.
On Sunday , a middle-aged woman, who was holding the hand of a child accompanying her, took the escalator at the Alambagh Metro station to reach the platform. Somehow, she lost her balance and stumbled. The alert LMRC staff pressed the emergency button and stopped the escalator.
The LMRC staff helped her reach the platform where the station controller gave her first aid. She was provided with a wheel chair to help her board the train. Not only did the LMRC staff accompanied her till the Charbagh Metro station, where she was to disembark, but also arranged for an auto-rickshaw for her.
