The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) recently announced a surge in passenger traffic compared to pre-COVID-19 levels. Despite this increase, the DMRC has no intentions of extending its metro operating hours beyond 5:30 am to 11:30 pm. When questioned about potential schedule changes, a DMRC representative explained, "Extending metro hours beyond 5:30 am and 11:30 pm aren?t feasible due to the necessary maintenance and attention required for each train at the depots."

Temporary Metro Arrival Delays

There were recent reports of temporary delays in train arrivals at interchange stations. However, the official clarified that these delays were short-lived and have since been resolved. Additionally, she mentioned that train headways at the busiest stations are already minimal, with trains arriving within seconds.

When asked about the cause of these delays, the official stated, "DMRC operates more than 360 trains, so these delays were likely due to minor technical issues lasting only a few minutes. There was also a sad incident of a passenger taking their life, which caused some delays." She emphasised that DMRC maintains over 99% punctuality in its metro timings and services.

DMRC's Consistent Growth in Passenger Journeys

DMRC shared data indicating a consistent increase in passenger journeys between March and August 2023, surpassing pre-COVID-19 levels. Each month witnessed over a 100% growth compared to the same period in 2019, with June experiencing the highest growth at 114.34%.

In August 2019, there were 52,46,607 passenger journeys, which surged to 59,04,397 in August 2023, reflecting a remarkable 112.54% growth. Other months in this period, such as March, April, May, and July, saw growth rates of 109.97%, 106.98%, 111.32%, and 108.11%, respectively, in comparison to 2019.

Introduction of DMRC Travel App and Future Plans

The introduction of the DMRC travel app has altered the way people purchase tickets, with many opting for the app to avoid station queues and crowds. When questioned about upcoming changes to DMRC services, the official hinted at additional developments beyond the travel app, promising further announcements to the public soon.