Fewer gates lead to longer queues at new terminal stn
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The station currently has only three exit gates, compared to the 10 available at the former terminal station, Kavi Subhash. In total, Kavi Subhash had 18 AFC gates, including eight for platform access. In contrast, Shahid Khudiram features six gates — three for entry and the rest for exit. Since last Tuesday, Shahid Khudiram staffers have been converting Gate 1, previously designated for entry, into an additional exit gate to facilitate the dispersal of commuters.
The Kavi Subhash station was indefinite shut on July 28 following the discovery of cracks on the supporting columns of its Dakshineswar-bound platform. Since then, services have been terminating at Shahid Khudiram.
Designed to accommodate approximately 10,000 daily passengers, the smaller Shahid Khudiram station allows access from both sides of Garia Station Road. However, both entrances lead to a single access area within the station box, which has only six AFC gates for entry and exit.
In comparison, Kavi Subhash's two main entrances were equipped with nine AFC gates each, supporting a daily footfall of 20,000 to 25,000 passengers.
"Even with an additional exit gate (Gate 1), which was previously reserved for entry and is now being used for exit during rush hours, the serpentine queues don't seem to have reduced," said Bishambar Majhi, a daily commuter, questioning why the manual gates cannot be opened during crises.
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Officials explained that swiping out through AFC gates is necessary to prevent fare evasion. Allowing unregulated exits in the long term could enable travellers to cover longer distances on tickets of lesser value, potentially leading to significant revenue loss for Metro. "The lack of automatic recording would result in significant revenue loss for Metro," an official said.
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