A detailed security audit of Delhi Metro Stations conducted by the Delhi Police has found that areas near 18 Metro stations are vulnerable and poorly lit. These dark areas are crime prone and pose threat to safety and security of women. While some parking areas have inadequate lights, many approach roads have no lights at all. The survey was conducted after a woman user of Delhi Police’s women safety app — Himmat — informed that some people stalk her near Pul Bangash Metro Station in north Delhi due to poor lighting, while she returned home from work.
The Metro stations are: Patel Chowk, Jahangirpuri, Netaji Subhash Place, Akshardham Mandir, Mayur Phase-I Extention, Shadipur, Pul Bangush, Uttam Nagar West, Uttam Nagar East, Peera Garhi, Nangloi, Dwarka More, Dwarka Sector-14, Dwarka Sector-13, Dwarka Sector-12, Dwarka Sector-11, Dwarka Sector-10 and Dwarka Sector-9. Delhi has a total of 138 Metro stations.
The Police Control Room (PCR) unit with the help of local police conducted the survey and found various parking areas are dark and vulnerable for street crime. At few parking lots the light poles are defective and many have no lights. Besides, many approach roads have poor lighting.
The survey found that metro stations such as, Uttam Nagar West, Uttam Nagar East, Peera Garhi, Nangloi and Dwarka Sector-13 have no lights in their parking lots. Approach roads at Dwarka More, Dwarka Sector-14, Dwarka Sector-13, Pul Bangash, Akshardham Mandir, Mayur Vihar Extention and Shadipur need urgent attention as lighting around these stations is extremely poor.
According to a police officer, the survey was conducted after a Himmat user informed them about poor lighting near the Pul Bangash Metro station. “A few days ago, a user stated that because of poor lighting towards Azad Market, some people stalk her while on way back to home in the evening,” the officer said adding, “the survey report will be sent to the concerned civic authorities.”
Special Commissioner of Police (Operations) Sundari Nanda told The Pioneer that the Metro stations should be well lit to prevent the street crimes. “Our patrolling vans keep a check on those stretches which are dark at night. But the lightening is must.” She also said that the Himmat App has proved helpful to the people as it helps them in connecting with the police. Another officer blamed poor action on the part of civic agencies for street lights maintenance or functioning. He said concerned agencies were informed on umpteenth occasion but nothing was done to rectify the same. A women safety mobile application, Himmat App, was launched in early this year. More than 40,000 women have downloaded the app which allows women send SOS signals to alert Delhi Police Control Room.