Metro coaches show signs of abuse

NEW DELHI: It''s just the third day since the Metro rail began running in Delhi, and the coaches are already showing signs of abuse.
No commuter has been prosecuted so far, say Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) officials. They say at the moment they are letting people off with a warning. Meanwhile, overhead handles have vanished, windows have cracked and there are paan stains in corners.At the stations, security is virtually non-existent and private securitymen enjoy the ride on the Metro while policemen manage the crowd.
At about 2 pm, a 400-man deep queue waited patiently outside Tis Hazari station. All the private securitymen — yes men, because no women personnel were seen — do is stop too many people from entering the station at once. Policemen look on. Where are the high-tech gadgets for frisking people and scanning baggage, one wonders.
On being asked why people were not being checked, the security personnel on duty say they have not been instructed to do s. "To aap press se hai? Apna bag dikhayiye. (You are from the Press? Let me check your bag)," said the personnel. This reporter''s bag was checked, while others blithely walked past.
Even as sahayaks ran around instructing and guiding commuters, the securitymen seemed to contribute nothing. "We don''t have the power to intercept people," said one.
Aboard the train, things are not much different. On the Tis Hazari-bound 4 pm train, the private security guard simply looked on as people pressed on to the doors and spat inside the train. "People don''t listen to us," he said. Even as he said this, a child climbed on to a seat and started kicking the window.
Meanwhile, reports of offences like crossing Metro tracks, drunken behaviour, pickpocketing and eve-teasing have already been made, apart from vandalism, smoking and ticketless travel.
"Metro authorities are making a mistake, they should crack the whip from start and make an example of offenders. They should be handed over to the police and detained for two-three hours," said Satish Chopra, a Krishna Nagar resident.
"At Kashmiri Gate, a youth was caught trying to cross the tracks and take the train back to Shahdara without paying. The sahayaks caught him," said a DMRC employee.
A guard Surinder said he had caught two people for drunken behaviour, and another for smoking. "But we cannot fine them," he said. Drunken behaviour, vandalism, indecency and even use of offensive and abusive language on the Metro can invite fines up to Rs 500.
DMRC director (rolling stock and electrical) Satish Kumar said from Saturday, police personnel would travel on every train. "A uniformed policemen will be present in every coach. We are stepping up the security on Saturday, Sunday and on Tuesday and Wednesday, when we expect more people to come," he said.
He also said that starting Saturday, policemen would start frisking people. "Offenders will be fined and handed over to the police. They will be detained," he added.
Metro being a prized possession for the city, any step taken to maintain it will be welcome.