A CATALYST OF CHANGE IN URBAN TRANSPORT AND COMMUTER CULTURE

Delhi Metro has redefined urban commuting in the city, shaping not just transportation but also public behaviour and civic consciousness. With its growing network and socio-economic initiatives, it remains a key pillar of city’s infrastructure. Anuj Dayal, Principal Executive Director of DMRC, reflects on the complexities of building a metro system, reports Ifrah Mufti

- Ifrah Mufti

OVER the past two decades, the Delhi Metro has emerged as one of the most transformative infrastructure projects in the national capital.

With its unparalleled efficiency and punctuality, it has not only revolutionised public transport but has also influenced commuter behaviour and promoted a new culture of civic responsibility among Dilliwalas. Before the Delhi Metro, commuting in Delhi was synonymous with hours wasted in traffic jams, uncomfortable bus rides and chaotic encounters with auto rickshaw drivers. The introduction of the Metro, however, has changed that completely.

It has provided a cleaner, faster and more comfortable mode of transportation while also nurturing an unprecedented shift in public behaviour encouraging orderliness, cleanliness and discipline.

RIDING THE METRO: A NEW SOCIAL ETIQUETTE

One of the most notable changes the Metro brought to Delhi was a shift in commuter behaviour. Public transport in the city, once infamous for unruly crowds, litter and general chaos, now finds passengers following basic etiquettes. There's a noticeable difference in how people queue up for trains, respect personal space, avoid eating or drinking and refrain from littering. Gone are the days of eating peanuts or spitting gutkas; the trains are now notably clean, with commuters largely adhering to the no-spitting rule, especially inside the train cars.