New Delhi: Increasing rush is making Delhi Metro experience like that of "Mumbai locals", Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Tuesday, eliciting a promise of more coaches and increased frequency of trains from Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu at the inauguration of the Jahangirpuri- Samaypur Badli extension here.
Both the Chief Minister and the Union Urban Development Minister emphasised on the need to work together as 'team India'. Naidu also accepted Kejriwal's request to change the name of two stations on the newly-launched section.
At an event at the DMRC headquarters, Kejriwal hailed Naidu as "one of the most progressive minds" in the Union Cabinet. The first train was flagged off via video-conferencing.
"Going back to cars should not be allowed. I will be suggesting to DMRC and also hold a review meeting with them. They will be going for additional coaches and increasing the frequency as well so that more coaches and more trips are there and people can be accommodated," Naidu said.
Earlier, Kejriwal flagged the issue of overcrowding of Metro coaches saying it was compelling a section to opt for other means of transport including private vehicles which, he said, was "not a good thing".
"Crowd is going up every year resulting in a major section preferring other means over metro. But the real success of metro is achieved when a person takes metro over car. Middle class and even upper middle class had started using the Metro.
"But due to the crowd, Metro is no longer comfortable. It is turning into locals of Mumbai where you are pushed in and out of coaches by the crowd," Kejriwal said.
The 4.4-km long Jahangirpuri-Samaypur Badli extension of metro's Yellow Line, will bring outer Delhi areas such as GT Karnal Road, Rohni, Transport Nagar, Badli into Delhi Metro's fold.
Currently Jahangirpuri is one of the terminal stations on this line, the other end of which runs till Gurgaon's Huda City Centre. With this extension, its length will be 49 kilometres.
