Delhi Metro commuters on the Pink Line will no longer have to wait for a train to arrive before looking for a less crowded coach. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has introduced real-time coach occupancy displays at Pink Line stations, allowing passengers to check crowd levels on individual coaches before boarding.
The facility, which was already available on the Magenta Line, has now been extended to the Pink Line, also known as Line 7. The circular corridor connects Majlis Park with Shiv Vihar and the Maujpur-Babarpur section.
The information will appear on Passenger Information Display System screens on station platforms shortly before a train arrives. Passengers will be able to see the approximate occupancy of all six coaches, identified as C1 to C6, and position themselves near a less crowded coach before the train pulls in.
The system uses load sensors installed in each coach. These sensors measure the weight of a coach and compare it with its weight when empty. The difference is used to calculate the approximate percentage of passenger occupancy, which is then displayed on the platform screens.
The facility is expected to help commuters make better boarding choices, particularly during morning and evening peak hours, when some coaches tend to become crowded faster than others.
By allowing passengers to spread themselves more evenly across the six coaches, the system is also expected to reduce localised overcrowding and improve comfort during journeys.
It can save commuters the trouble of walking along the platform after a train arrives in search of space.
DMRC said the feature had been operational on the Magenta Line, connecting Botanical Garden and Janakpuri West, since 2022. The system received a positive response from passengers and helped them distribute themselves more evenly across coaches.
The corporation said extending the facility to the Pink Line involved technical challenges because it operates as a circular corridor. The data interlinking required for the display system had to be implemented across the line.
The occupancy information is intended to provide an additional layer of convenience and help passengers use available space more efficiently. More balanced passenger distribution also contributes to better utilisation of train capacity and smoother operations, according to DMRC.
The extension is part of the corporation’s efforts to upgrade passenger information systems and introduce technology-based services across its network.