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Ahmedabad: On Day 1, 10,000 hop along for Metro joy ride

Amdavadis throng to get a feel of the Metro rail leading to heavy rush

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1. People take a ride on the Metro on the first day of operations; (inset) 2. Large rush of people at the Metro station waiting for their turn
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They came to take a joyride, some extremely poor but spending as much as Rs 20 on an auto ride so that they could be among those who get to ride the Metro in Ahmedabad.

Day one of the commercial operations of Ahmedabad Metro that covered over 6 km from Vastral Gam to Apparel Park in the city saw over 10,000 citizens taking the 20-minute ride between the two stations.

The metro which will be free for the first 10 days began functioning at 10 in the morning until four in the evening on Tuesday.

Long queues mostly of men were seen outside the two metro stations with security officials preventing people from taking any bags inside. Most who came for a rid admitted that they wanted to get a feel and look at the trains. Jitubhai Patel, who runs a Pav Bhaji unit in Odhav said he wanted to take a ride while it was still free. "I wanted to see how the station looks and how it is to travel in it. I will be taking the train to Aparell Park and then go to my shop from there. It will be a little roundabout way but I don't mind it," said Patel.

Hansaben Laljibhai, a farm labourer from Vaj village spent Rs20 to come and see the train. Hansaben who was found asking other passengers what to do after she bought the ticket said she will go home from Apparel Park.

"I may not use the service again if it is very expensive but as of now I was told it was free and so I wanted a ride in it," she said.

The station also had heavy security with as many as 60 cops being stationed at the two operational stations. At Apparel park, around 12, the cops were seen restricting the entry of passengers to prevent overcrowding.

An official of Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation (GMRC) at the station said that the train on an average is expected to run at a speed of 20km an hour. "Once it becomes fully operational the trains will be driverless too. At present we have drivers running the train since it is the initial days," said the official.

On the first day, cops had to stationed to ensure that passengers enter the train in a queue but officials said that over a period of time they will learn that 'there is no need to rush'. "We also have around 30 cameras in each station and heavy penalty will be charged for spitting and littering. As of now a fine of Rs200 will be levied, failure to pay will lead to a complaint being registered with the cops," said the official.

They said when fully functional the station security will be handed over to CISF.

It should be noted that between Vastral Gam and Apparel Park where the train currently runs there are four more stations but the train did not stop on any as they are still under construction.

WOMEN’S SPECIAL

The Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation (GMRC) in a release said that the metro service will be dedicated exclusively to women on March 8 as part of the International Women’s Day celebration. The free ride for women and children will be organised by the women train operators and the two stations will also be entirely manned by an all-women staff.

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