Delhi Metro - World-class Metro or World-class Jugaad?

'World-class metro'. So says the official website of Delhi Metro. And to an extent they are true. 

India is an expert at Jugaad, and obviously, a world-class expert at Jugaad.

I initially thought of covering one metro station per week, but , then, it would have been too much. So in this first edition I have covered three metro stations which are within walking distance and, obviously, cycling distance of my home. 

Each picture, it is said, it worth a thousand words. So here are some graphical pictures of what really is the Delhi Metro.

The entrance to a world-class metro station (MG Road)

Another entrance to the world-class station. This is the scene for which many foreigners visit India!!

                                                                             Disabled friendly or Abled-dysfriendly?   But where exactly is this ramp leading to? Did the ground shift beneath the station??












These are the relics of a forgotten era, or of a forgotten drawing. Whatever, they will be dismantled only after a mishap and lots of passing the buck and lots of enquiries in which a contractor will be disqualified for an unspecified time and reinstated on the sly. 


 

World-class paving, world-class seepage











 

Gateway to where?? World-class construction!!







No article about DMRC is complete without mentioning their world-class parking facilities and their environ-friendly approach.

Even the gate is one small (or big) Jugaad






Is this where the missing cables are going?










 The biggest Jugaad of them all - this station is under construction for the last one year, and still being used!!

 



But apart from these, the metro service is also commendable. My son's class fellow was stuck in a metro for forty minutes with no information from anyone as to what exactly is happening. He was two hours late for school. It was, as usual, a 'minor glitch'. Otherwise it would have been 'There was no disruption in our services'. 

In Punjabi they say 'Moye te mukreyan da ilaaj nahin' 

World-class Metro!!

Keep it up!!

(c) Dr Rajiv Bhatia