On September 18, Delhi Metro achieved a milestone with 7.867 million passenger journeys, setting a new record amidst the city’s worsening air quality, which recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 494. The day also saw the enforcement of bans on BS III petrol and BS IV diesel vehicles under the Graded Response Action Plan. This surpassed the previous record of 7.749 million journeys set on August 25, a day after Raksha Bandhan. Anuj Dayal, Principal Executive Director of Corporate Communications at DMRC, attributed the increase to passengers' growing trust in the metro's reliability and convenience. In response to the pollution crisis, DMRC has added 60 extra weekday trips to enhance capacity. The Yellow Line recorded the highest usage with 2.09 million journeys, followed closely by the Blue Line at 2.08 million, highlighting their role as the busiest corridors in the network. Since August, DMRC has repeatedly broken its own records, reflecting a growing preference for eco-friendly public transport. This shift is expected to reduce vehicular emissions and improve air quality in Delhi and surrounding areas. DMRC has introduced digital solutions for ticketing; allowing passengers to book tickets through various platforms and avoid station queues. Collaborations with organisations like IRCTC and NCRTC have further integrated travel options for commuters. Notably, DMRC is recognised globally for its environmental sustainability efforts, being the first metro system registered for carbon credits with the United Nations. (ET)
