The masterminds of the Metro in Delhi deserve some praise. Clean, fast, cheap, easy, safe, comfortable, air conditioned, and no beggars. Hard to believe, but true. The first phase of the Metro opened 2 years ago, and last year I was worried it would deteriorate. Wrong!!! It looks as good today as last year. The best way to ride is to buy a SmartCard, and then recharge it as it runs out. The cost is about $.50 a day, for both directions to almost anywhere it travels. Riding during peak hours can be challenging. Indians still don't understand about waiting for exiting passengers before getting on, and there can be a real brawl. I've learned to be patient. I've never seen the door close before everyone gets on. There are seats along the 2 edges, and handles to hang on to down the center. The stops are announced by a male voice in Hindi, and a female voice in English. They also announce that the seats are for old people, the physically challenged, and women, and occasionally, some man will stand up and give his seat to someone. When the seats are full, but it's not too packed, it's not uncommon for people to sit down on their haunches, in that Indian way, along the edge.
People on the Metro strike me as very middle class. Most men, in general, look clean, wear clean clothes, have decent haircuts. To me, they look more alike than I see in the general population at home. Everybody has dark hair, dark eyes, and varying shades of medium to dark skin, quite attractive, I think. The women have long hair, usually gathered at the nap of the neck with some kind of clip or hair ornament. Almost all wear a sari or a salwar kameez, with bangles on their arms, a nose jewel, earrings, necklaces, a bindi on the forehead, and sandals. I have never experienced any groping, or "eve-teasing", the term they use for inappropriate touching of women. There's not much small talk, either. Even the announcers say, "Do not talk to strangers", and they also instruct passengers what to do if they see anything suspicious or dangerous. There is no eating, drinking, smoking, of spitting around or on the train. At the main terminals where you change lines, there is a guard on the platform to help move people, and help direct the madness. There are big lighted windows of advertising along the walkways, but no booths selling food, water, or anything. At the entrances, you can buy coffee or purified water. Coming out of the station, there are lots and lots of bicycle rickshaws or auto rickshaws waiting to take you to your destination, usually for under $1. I love the Metro. I feel like this city is mine. I can go almost anywhere for $.25 one way on the subway, and a $1 in the rickshaw. One way to see the city is to ride the Metro to the end of the line in each direction. Some of the train is underground, but most of the time it's above the city, so you can see and see and see. There are millions and millions of people in Delhi, and I would bet most of them use the subway every day. Going from the Metro into the streets of Delhi is one of those interesting contrasts that India presents. This is a great deal for a great number of people. Phase 2 will reach into the outskirts of the city, and to theairport. The Metro is definitely one of Delhi's splendors.
