NGO files petition for basic facilities in Delhi Metro

New Delhi, Jan 10, 2009: A petition seeking a direction to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and the NCT government to provide drinking water and toilet facilities for commuters in trains has been filed in the Delhi High Court. The petition, filed by an NGO, Voice of India, stated that in December 2007 the organisation had sent a representation to the Delhi government and the DMRC seeking basic facilities in the train but got no satisfactory reply from them.

According to NGO president Dhanesh Ieshdhan, there is also lack of toilet facility in the train, besides drinking water facilities for the commuters.

Seeking the DMRC to provide these facilities within two-month time, the petitioner alleged that the corporation has failed to make special sitting arrangements for the senior citizens who commute every day by the train.

Besides, the NGO has raised questions over the security at Metro stations stating that "there is absence of baggage screening or scanning machines, the metal detecting wooden-frames through which a traveller passes before reaching a platform are also defective".

The petitioner also sought the court to constitute a committee in the form of nodal agency to look into the necessary facilities to be provided to the commuters in metro trains.

(Agencies)