On Wednesday, as the gates of the many Metro stations in the city were thrown open to the public, people didn’t want to miss out on any of the first day frolic.
Travelling in the Metro didn’t seem a lot different from travelling in an TSRTC bus, only because of the sheer number of people packed into each compartment.
Some were there to ‘just experience’ the Metro while others left their vehicles at home or saved their cab money. Even with no place to move and the noticeable smell of sweat, the spirits of the commuters didn’t die down. They were enjoying the train ride, overlooking the city from angles never seen before.
Yeshwant, Shwetcha and their group of friends who take law coaching in Ameerpet were travelling back home to Uppal. “It has now become very convenient for us. My friend stays even farther away from Uppal. While I used to take the bus which would get stuck in traffic jams, she used to take a cab, which would be so expensive, considering it had to be paid for daily. It’s extremely crowded now because it’s the beginning, but I’m sure it’ll come down eventually,” said one of the commuters, while another said, “Travelling from Ameerpet to Miyapur would take hours, and now it’s just a half hour ride! That’s amazing!”
Interestingly, while some thought that having a separate compartment for women would be helpful, others didn’t see the need for it. “I didn’t feel awkward getting in along with the crowd,” said Bhargavi.
