Toilets in Delhi Metro - A Commuters Perspective

7/31/2019 Toilets in Delhi Metro - A Commuters Perspective

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A report by Group 4

Ashish Bhasin Roll no. 8 Ashish Dubey - Roll no. 9

Benz Thomas - Roll no. 11 Pratik Sharma - Roll no. 32

Vivek Sharma Roll no. 47

THE BIG QUESTION -

TOILETS AT DELHI METRO

A COMMUTERS PERSPECTIVE

Image courtesy: mmagallan from www.sxc.hu


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THE BIG

QUESTION -

TOILETS AT

DELHI METROA COMMUTERS PERSPECTIVE

1.1 PREFACE

Prior to the advent of the Delhi Metro in December 2002, travelling in

Delhi used to be a problem. With Blue line buses or its earlier killer

version, the Red Line buses being the primary mode of public

transport, people of Delhi would cringe at the word of travel. These

private buses, over packed people to the maximum possible extent,

causing angst among travelers.

With its launch in 2002, Delhi Metro has been increasing its network

and continues to reach newer areas. Today with 142 stations spread

over 6 lines, 2.06 million commuters use their services every day. Delhi

Metro has become the life line of Delhi and even a few minutes delay

comes at a great risk. As the travel on the Delhi Metro became

commonplace, people have started demanding more and more

services.

One of the key points being highlighted by commuters is the lack of

Toilet facilities in the Delhi Metro network. While this has been a long

lingering issue, in August 2012, the matter went to the Supreme Court

of India and the court asked Delhi Metro, Government of India andGovernment of NCT of Delhi to respond with their views.

It was felt that understanding and pursuing the commuters perspective

on this issue would make for a strong case as to where to have the

toilets. This report through its survey focuses on the issue of how the

model of toilets should be selected, where it should be located and

what do commuters feel about the whole issue.

ABOUT

DELHI

METRO

142 stations

6 lines

Moving more than

2.06 million

commuters every

day

Launched in

December 2002


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This report can be used by DMRC (Delhi Metro Rail Corporation), to respond to the courts question of

how and where to locate the toilets. This report throws some interesting insights on the model and how

people would like to pay for the service.

2.1 ACKONOWLEDGEMENT

The team wishes to thank the people who took out time to answer the questionnaire, both online and onface to face basis. A few of our colleagues need to be thanked as well for taking the preliminary

questionnaire and providing us with valuable feedback.

Image from www.sxc.hu


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3.1 CONTENTS

S no. Topic Page number

1.1 Preface 1

2.1 Acknowledgement 2

3.1 Contents 3

4.1 About Delhi and its people 4

4.2 Genesis of Delhi Metro 4

4.3 About Delhi Metro 4

5.1 The toilet issue and Delhi Metro 6

6.1 Survey methodology 7

7.1 Survey analysis 7

8.1 Other details captures 9

9.1 Conclusion 10

10.1 Appendix 1111.1 References 12

12.1 Glossary 13

13.1 Abstract summary 13


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4.1 ABOUT DELHI AND ITS POPULATION

With an estimated population of 16 million as per a conservative report in 2011, Delhi city is the 2nd

most populated city in India. It also has the distinction of being the 8 th most populous city in the world.

Add to the neighboring cities of Baghpat, Gurgaon, Sonepat, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Noida and Greater

Noida along with other smaller nearby towns, the NCR region as it is popularly known as, has close to

22 million urban residents. The NCT, as Delhi is known in the administrative circles, and its urban

region has been given the special status of National Capital Region (NCR) under the Indian

constitution's 69th amendment act of 1991.

4.2 THE GENESIS OF DELHI METRO

The NCR region has had a transport system was served primarily by diesel and CNG driven buses,

Autos and Taxis. These we ineffective in terms of cost, reach and punctuality. A local train system

operated by the Indian railways also was ineffective due to the lack of network and schedule

adherence.

A study conducted in the year 1969 to assess the transport requirements for Delhi and NCR firstexplored the concept of a mass rapid transit. The next few years were spent in understanding and

developing reports on what should be done to overcome the challenges of an increasing population.

The Delhi Development Authority and the Urban Arts Commission came up with a proposal for

developing a multi-modal transport system, which would consist of constructing three underground

mass rapid transit corridors as well augmenting the city's existing suburban railway and road transport

networks.

With traffic and pollution soaring, an ever burgeoning population started putting pressure on the

Government to come up with a sustainable solution to the citys traffic problem. A twofold rise in

population and a fivefold rise in the number of vehicles between 1981 and 1998 led to exploration of

Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) for the people of Delhi. An attempt at privatizing the bus transport

system in 1992 merely compounded the problem, with inexperienced operators plying poorly

maintained, noisy and polluting buses on lengthy routes, resulting in long waiting times, unreliable

service, extreme overcrowding, unqualified drivers, speeding and reckless driving. To rectify the

situation, the Government of India and the Government of Delhi jointly set up a company called the

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on March 5, 1995.

4.3 ABOUT DELHI METRO

Delhi Metro currently serves people in Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida and Ghaziabad in the National Capital

Region of India. The network consists of six lines with a total length of 189.63 kilometers with 142

stations of which 35 are underground. It has a combination of elevated, at-grade and underground lines

and uses both broad gauge and standard gauge rolling stock.

DMRC operates more than 2,700 trips daily between 6:00 and 23:00 running with an interval of 2

minutes 30 seconds between trains at peak frequency. The trains are mainly of four coaches, but due

to increase in passenger numbers, six-coach trains are also added on the Red Line (Dilshad Garden to

Rithala), Yellow Line (Jahangirpuri to HUDA city centre), Blue Line (Dwarka sec 21 to Vaishali/NOIDA


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city centre) and Violet Line (Central Secretariat to Badarpur). The team was initially led by E.

Sreedharan as Managing Director, DMRC till his retirement in 31 December 2011. His successor is

Mangu Singh, who currently is leading the execution of the new lines. Phase III and Phase IV are

scheduled for completion in 2016 and 2021 respectively. Work on Phase III has already started while

planning for Phase IV has begun.

Picture: Delhi Metro network


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5.1 THE TOILET ISSUE AND DELHI METRO

With an ever increasing network, the Delhi Metro, by 2015, is expected to reach more places that it has

ever touched. With comfort and punctuality as the main aspects, more and more people are taking to

the Delhi Metro for commuting from one end of the city to another. Though this has decreased the

travel time for people, the average time spent within the metro network has increased. Add to it theextreme weather condition in Delhi both summers and winters, the fluid intake varies drastically. With

the Metro offering bare minimum or almost no toilet facilities at many of its stations, it was becoming a

challenge for commuters who wanted to use the restrooms in case of requirements. In most cases they

would have to exit the station, use the facility close by if it existed and then come back into the station

to continue their commute. At some stations Delhi Metro did open up its employee toilets for the public

but these were grossly inadequate or under publicized. In most cases this meant an additional cost

which most people could seldom afford. Globally a few Metros do offer toilet facilities in their network.

These include the Taipei, Shanghai and Tokyo amongst others.

5.2 THE TOILET ISSUE TIMELINE

2007

PIL in Delhi High Court for providing of toilets in Delhi Metro

The Delhi High Court directs DMRC to permit use of Metro stafftoilets at Mandi House, Vidhan Sabha, Chawri Bazaar and CivilLines

2009 Delhi High Court throws out PIL for toilet facility in Delhi Metro

Directs them to approach Delhi Metro

2012

Satish Kumar Sharma, challenges Delhi High Court order whichhad dismissed the plea for toilet facilites in Metro Station

SC notice to Metro over lack of toilets


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6.1 SURVEY METHODOLOGY

While provision of Toilet facilities in public places is a basic necessity, we wanted the commuters

perspective on how they wanted the facility to be structured. While the Delhi Metro has toilets at various

locations, most of them are outside the station which meant commuters need to get out, use the facility

and then come back in. Where the facility was actually available, people did not know about their

existence.

The survey was designed to understand if people indeed wanted the toilet facility, where they wanted it

and how would the payment be structured (Refer to annexure 1A for the survey questionnaire).

7.1 SURVEY ANALYSIS

1. The foremost reason cited by people for wanting toilets is the increase in the Delhi Metronetwork. With peoples propensity to use the Delhi Metro increasing people are travelling moreand more kilometers to reach their destination. People have also cited

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

With the DelhiMetro network

increasingpeople travel

longer

In winters itbecomesimportant

There can bean emergency

Medicalcondition

Othersplease specify


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2. Most people want the toilet within the station premises. This can be attributed to the fact that it isindeed difficult to exit the station and look for options to relive oneself. What is interesting is thatthis set of people wanted the location to be within the premises of the main station but awayfrom the station platform. This can be attributed to the fact that commuters want the stationplatforms to maintain the current level of cleanliness.

3. An interesting insight that was found from the survey was the fact that people wanted to pay forusing the facility. A pay per use model was propagated by 61% of the respondents. A mere 28%

wanted the toilet facility for free.

On theplatform

21%

Within thestation

premiseson the

station floor21%

Within thepremises butaway from the

station

floor/platform40%

Outside thestation

premises butwithin the

boundary wall18%

Pay per use

61%

Incorporatedinto the token

money11%

Free28%


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8.1 OTHER DETAILS CAPTURED FROM THE SURVEY

Our survey was administered to about 69 people. Of this 30 were face to face interviews conducted atDwarka Sector 9 station, Noida City Center and Jankapuri West. The remaining respondents were

gathered via the online method. The age breakup is given below.

9%

58%

26%

7%

Less than 18 18-30 30-60 60+

Male62%

Female38%

Respondents by sex


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9.1 CONCLUSIONS

There are some interesting inferences showed by this survey and our recommendations are based on

these. While there is no question around the requirement of toilets in Metro stations, we propose the

following:-

1. DMRC should go in for a PPP (public private partnership) model for execution and maintenanceof toilets at stations. While DMRC should provide the space and erection of these facilities, themaintenance should be left to a private party thus allowing DMRC to focus on their main job i.e.running the trains per schedule. This insight comes from the fact that 72 percent of commutersare willing to pay to use these facilities provided these are up to the mark.

2. The payment for usage of the toilet facilities should be as a pay per use model. Incorporating itinto the token money will cause immense displeasure among the commuters.

3. The toilet facilities should be located within the station premises but beyond the actual platform.This will ensure cleanliness of the station premises and also be convenient for people becausethey no more have to exit the station for this activity


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10.1 APPENDIX

1A survey questionnaire

TOILET FACILITIES AT METRO STATIONS

Please select only one answer for each question except Question 8

1. Name (optional):2. Age

a. Less than 18b. 18-30c. 30-60d. 60+

3. Gendera. Maleb. Female

4. How many times a week do you use the Delhi Metro (if you use it for going and coming backfrom work please count it as 2 times)

a. Less than 5 times a weekb. 6-10 times a weekc. More than 11 times a week

5. Do you think Metro Stations should have toilets within the station premisesa. Yes

b. No

6. Please chose the reason you think there should be toilets in stationsa. With the Delhi Metro network increasing people travel longerb. In winters it becomes importantc. There can be an emergencyd. Medical conditione. Others please specify

7. What kind of payment structure do you want Delhi Metro to incorporate for the toilets?a. Pay per useb. Incorporated into your token moneyc. Free

8. What should be the location of the toileta. On the platformb. Within the station premises on the station floorc. Within the premises but away from the station floor/platformd. Outside the station premises but within the boundary wall

9. What other facility would you like at Metro Stations (You can select multiple answers)


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a. More bogies per trainb. Frequency should be increasedc. Better light snacks and water facilitiesd. Online recharge of metro cardse. Better connectivity from home to metro stationsf. AC buses for Metro Connectivity along with ordinary onesg. Better security check facility including easier process for entering stations

h. Help for old and senior citizensi. Better laptop and mobile phone charging facilitiesj. Increased parking spacek. Nothing I love the metrol. Others Please specify

1B News article from The Economic Times

11.1 REFERENCES

Metro Guide by DMRC

Delhi Metro Caring for your safety

http://www.delhimetrorail.com/

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com

http://en.wikipedia.org

Images have been sourced from the internet using google images
http://en.wikipedia.org/http://en.wikipedia.org/http://en.wikipedia.org/


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12.1 GLOSSARY

DMRC Delhi Metro Rail Corporation

GNCTD Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi

6 lines refers to the 6 separate routes run by the Delhi Metro

PPP Public Private Partnership where facilities are built by the Govt agency and managed by a

private organization with profit sharing

13.1 ABSTRACT SUMMARY

Toilet facilities are one of the basic facilities any human requires. The Supreme Court has asked the

Delhi Metro to respond with its stand on provision of this facility in their stations. People too want this

facility and they are willing to pay for it if they use it. This makes it easier for Delhi Metro to launch and

maintain these services in the stations. The biggest challenge would be ensuring that these are easily

accessible and the person does not have to exit the station to use it. If this criterion is not met then it

would be difficult for the sustainability of the service. Delhi Metro will have to be extremely choosy is

picking up the spot to locate these toilet facilities which preferably should be within the station premises

but away from the platform. This will be a tough ask considering almost all the stations have been built

to best utilize the space available and expansion will not be easy. It remains to be seen what stand

Delhi Metro will take in the Honorable Supreme Court and what justification it provides for installing or

not installing these facilities.

Toilets in Delhi Metro - A Commuters Perspective

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