Several Noida Metro commuters are reportedly suffering due to the Aqua Line metro skipping 10 stations in the course of peak hours. On Saturday, workplace bearers of residents’ groups held a protest against the Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC), according to a PTI report. The protesters mentioned that amongst the metro stations that are skipped by Noida Metro train in the course of peak durations i.e., from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM and from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM on weekdays are Sector 101 and Sector 50 metro stations. With an aim to cut down the travel time among terminus stations in Noida and Greater Noida by nine minutes, speedy trains had been began by the NMRC from 8 February 2020, which skip particular low-ridership metro stations in the course of peak hours.
On Saturday, practically 3 dozen individuals, like workplace-bearers of residents’ bodies like the Noida Federation of Apartment Owners Association, the Noida Extension Flat Owners Welfare Association and social activists, staged a protest at the Sector 101 metro station, demanding a rollback of the move. The metro stations that are skipped in the course of peak hours are Sector 50, Sector 81, Sector 83, Sector 101, Sector 143, Sector 144, Sector 145, Sector 146, Sector 147 and Sector 148.
NOFAA president Rajiva Singh was quoted in the report saying that a nine-minute quicker metro ride does not give any big benefit to passengers but it absolutely causes inconvenience to these whose stations are getting skipped. Singh additional mentioned that quite a few residents of higher-rise apartments have bought flats contemplating the closeness of the metro station. During peak hours, there are quite a few ladies commuters, students and senior citizens who have to bear the brunt of this choice, Singh added.
According to General Secretary of NEFOWA, Shweta Bharti, individuals have been raising the problem for the previous couple of days but there has been no response from the concerned officials. Now Noida Metro does not halt at crucial metro stations like Sector 101 and Sector 50 in the course of peak hours. Bharti additional mentioned that there are quite a few residential societies in the vicinity of these metro stations exactly where commuters are facing difficulties since now they have to go to other stations. In the coming days, the challenge would amplify as offices and schools are reopening immediately after a break due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she added.
Besides, it was also alleged by the protestors that they had been not permitted to travel from Sector 101 station to Sector 50 station by the metro train exactly where they wanted to hand more than a memorandum to NMRC officials and go over the problem with them.