With the Delhi Metro coming to a halt following an extension of the lockdown in the capital with stricter restrictions, many people engaged in essential services, particularly healthcare personnel, took to social media to complain that going to work has become a harrowing experience for them.

Last year, the Metro service was shut down for 169 days during the national lockdown and was reopened gradually from September 7, 2020. On Monday, it was shut down again. Sources in Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), however, said that in the last three weeks, footfall was very low as only those engaged in essential services or exempted from the lockdown restrictions were allowed to travel after producing a valid ID.

According to sources, Metro’s ‘passenger journeys’ ranged between 15 lakh and 20 lakh a day before the fresh lockdown was imposed. The average passenger journey between April 20 and May 8, however, was just 2.3 lakh. Though the numbers were low, for many of these passengers, travelling by the Metro was the only option.

“I am a banker and I have to attend office despite the lockdown or curfew. Without Metro, I have faced so much trouble commuting from Noida to Delhi. Please start Metro services ASAP,” tweeted KM Sharfani, a commuter, adding that Metro could have been allowed to operate for during morning and evening peak hours. He also said that autorickshaw drivers were fleecing those who had to go to work.

“Is Metro service available for healthcare workers (hospital staff) or it’s suspended for everyone?” tweeted Rahul R Nath. Another commuter, Rakesh Kumar, wrote that middle-class commuters engaged in essential services can’t spend on cab rides every day and were dependent on Delhi Metro.

“Why did you not suspend the bus service? Moreover, how will the hospital staff be travelling to the hospital... we don’t have any mode of transportation. Hospitals are not organising any mode of transportation neither is the government,” tweeted Fahmida Nasreen.

Although a large number of passengers using the Metro are likely to switch to buses for their daily commute, the reduced frequency of buses due to lower footfall might not be increased immediately. “Already, 1,655 cluster buses are in operation but don’t have many passengers throughout the day. We will immediately increase frequency in case there is any increase in passengers of exempted category on any route,” an official said.

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