more-in The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has come up with a ‘no whistle-blower’ policy of a different kind. Security persons manning the Namma Metro platforms have been asked to do away with whistles to control crowd behaviour and rely instead on verbal instructions. Why? Two reasons have cropped up: security persons say some passengers complained of the noise of the whistle getting “irritating”, but BMRCL authorities said crowd behaviour had improved over time, negating the need for whistles to be used. The guards stationed at the stations are tasked with maintaining safety precaution, as well as implementing basic rules such as the recent introduction of priority entry and exit for women in the first two entrances, as well as ensuring that no one crosses the yellow line on the platform. BMRCL officials said whistles were necessary during the initial phase when commuters were unfamiliar with the metro and its rules. “But over time, people have understood them. A majority of the travellers are regulars who take the train and use the same stations almost every day. The guards had to use whistles a lot earlier. But now, people are also aware of the dangers of going close to the track, of the need to maintain a queue, etc.,” said an official, and added that crowd behaviour inside the metro and in the stations had improved to become systematic, reducing the workload of the guards. But guards said they feel almost unarmed without their whistles. “Earlier, we could control someone at the other end by just blowing the whistle. Now, we have to yell loud enough to surpass the other noise to be heard and understood,” said a guard in one of the stations on the Purple Line. At another station, a guard said it was not just about the distance. “Just telling someone verbally simply does not have the desired effect. When we used to whistle, everyone would pay attention to us. Now, we have to single out people and tell them what they are doing wrong. Some of them just brush us aside,” said a security person. Some passengers too appeared to agree with the fact that whistles were more effective. “Especially with children, the sound of a whistle works better than someone telling them to stay away from the yellow line,” said Sarala, a regular commuter.

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