Faulty elevators, snag-hit escalators, long queues at ticket counters, ill-lit premises — the list of problems at Metro stations is growing.

The daily passenger count has increased from 5 lakh to 6.5 lakh since the route’s extension beyond Tollygunge but there has not been proportionate infrastructure upgrade. Over the past year the annual footfall has jumped by around 70,000, causing overcrowding.

Metro travelled to five over-ground and eight underground stations to take stock of the problems faced by commuters.

Elevators

Five of the six overground stations from Kudghat (Netaji) to New Garia (Kavi Subhash) have elevators but passengers complain that on several occasions they are turned off.

While Metro was visiting the stations, the elevators at Birji (Shahid Khudiram) and Bansdroni (Masterda Surya Sen) were not working. At both stations, officials said the lifts were “under maintenance”.

“Last month me and my wife were about to board a lift at Kavi Nazrul (Garia Bazar) when we learnt that it was not working. We asked a station employee and he said that the lift had been turned off and we would have to take the stairs or the escalator. Since my wife is scared of escalators, we had to climb the stairs to reach the platform,” said Garia resident Sushanta Sen,75.

Metro Railway sources said the elevators were occasionally turned off, especially during the peak hour, to avoid tripping and overloading.

“The lifts are meant for the aged and physically challenged. But we often see middle-aged people and even school students and youths boarding the elevators. That leads to overcrowding. So we have decided to turn them off occasionally,” said a source.

Recently, the source recounted, a young couple inside a lift at Kavi Nazrul station had pressed the alarm button by mistake. When the alarm started ringing, the couple got panicky and broke the glass pane of the lift with his umbrella. The lift is still under repair.

Escalators

Escalators at Chandni Chowk, Shyambazar, Netaji Bhavan, MG Road and New Garia stations were defunct when Metro visited them last week.

At several stations on the extended stretch from Tollygunge to New Garia, passengers complained that the escalator was only operated during the rush hour.

“People are not supposed to climb up or down the steps of an escalator like they do on a staircase. But we often notice passengers doing that during non-rush hours, thereby damaging the machines. Also, passengers throw paper and plastic on the escalators, jamming the steps. So, at times, we turn off the escalators so they could be used when we need them the most,” said an official at Shyambazar station.

The escalator connecting New Garia Halt (on the suburban Sealdah South line) to New Garia Metro station is also turned off on most days. Station staff claim that the escalator is used more by outsiders than the Metro passengers.

“Outsiders often press the emergency button and turn off the escalator, so they could walk in the opposite direction. This causes snags,” said a Metro source.

Metro officials, however, denied any problem being created by outsiders. “All machines are prone to snags. We maintain them properly,” said an official.

Queue for ticket

From New Garia to Dum Dum, there are long queues for tickets at most stations. The reason being only two-three counters of the total six-eight on either end of a station are open at any given point, even during the rush hour.

“A few days ago my car broke down and I thought of taking Metro to office. But I saw the ticket queue at Ka lighat had reached almost the staircase at the entrance at 1pm. I took a taxi,” said Subhajit Dutta, a Lake Market resident, who is not a Metro regular and, hence, does not have a smart card.

Metro officials cite staff shortage for not keeping all or most counters open.

“There has not been any recruitment since the southern extension of the route. We have to do with the same old force. Moreover, the operational time has been extended by an hour,” said an official.

“As a result, almost all stations suffer from a shortage of employees and we are forced to keep most counters closed,” the official added.

Poor illumination

Walking bays (passages connecting two ends of the station on the level above the platform) and platforms at stations like Shyambazar, Esplanade, Belgachhia and MG Road are dimly lit. Passengers have often complained of feeling unsafe while walking down the passages.

“A few months ago, a youth was stalking me and tried to harass me on the walking bay between the two ends of Shyambazar station. The passage was deserted, dimly lit and without any guard. I screamed when he tried to get close and he ran away,” said Kamalika Das, a school teacher.

All stations between Kudghat and Birji have vacant spaces beside the ticket counters which are poorly lit and remain mostly unguarded. The areas at some stations have become havens for vagrants. At Kudghat, two families have built temporary sheds and have been living there for months.

“We replace lights at the underground stations as and when needed. But we are unaware of any problem of encroachment on the extended stretch. We will definitely take action,” said a Metro official.