Metro ridership rises as Team Anna begins fast

New Delhi, July 25 (IANS) Delhi Metro opened an extra ticket counter at the Patel Chowk station after witnessing a spike in footfalls on the first day of Team Anna's anti-corruption protest at Jantar Mantar, barely a stone's throw away.

"We have seen an increase in footfall at Patel Chowk Metro Station since morning. Usually the average ridership is 13,000 people per day. But due to its close proximity to Jantar Mantar, the ridership had reached 21,000 by 7 in the evening," a Delhi Metro official told IANS.

"We have opened an extra ticket counter for the passengers' convenience. This counter will stay open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.," he added.

For protesters pouring into the capital's designated protest venue in central Delhi, the Metro has been the most favoured mode of transport.

The Delhi Metro normally makes over 2,700 trips a day, covering about 70,000 km and carrying around 1.8 million passengers on week days.