New Delhi, Oct. 30 -- Commuters travelling on Delhi Metro's Pink Line will no longer have to guess which coach has more space or rush from one end of the platform to another after a train arrives. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has extended its real-time coach occupancy display system to the corridor, allowing passengers to check the approximate crowd levels in individual coaches before boarding.

The facility has been introduced on Line 7, covering the Pink Line from Majlis Park towards Shiv Vihar and the Maujpur-Babarpur section. The system displays the occupancy status of all six coaches, marked C1 to C6, on Passenger Information Display System (PIDS) screens installed at metro station platforms.

The technology uses load sensors fitted inside coaches to measure their weight and compare it with their empty weight. Based on the difference, the approximate percentage of passenger occupancy in each coach is calculated and displayed shortly before the train arrives.

The facility was earlier introduced on the Magenta Line (Line 8), between Botanical Garden and Janakpuri West, in 2022. According to DMRC, the system has helped passengers make informed boarding decisions and distribute themselves more evenly across coaches.

Extending the facility to the Pink Line posed technical challenges because of its circular configuration and the complexity of interlinking data on the corridor. However, the corporation has now operationalised the feature following its earlier implementation on the Magenta Line.

The occupancy display is expected to be particularly useful during morning and evening peak hours, when certain coaches tend to become more

crowded than others. Passengers will be able to identify relatively less crowded coaches and position themselves accordingly before the train arrives.

DMRC said the system would encourage better distribution of passenger loads, reduce localised overcrowding and improve commuters' overall travel experience. It also said that more balanced passenger distribution would contribute to smoother operations and better utilisation of available capacity.

The corporation said it remained committed to upgrading passenger information systems and introducing technology-driven solutions to make metro travel more convenient, comfortable and efficient.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.