Metro stations in Lucknow are all set to become the first in the country to provide free drinking water to commuters at all 21 metro stations of the North-South metro corridor. Apart from free drinking water, the Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation (LMRC) is also going to provide free toilet facility at each of its stations.
The stations will have a kiosk providing purified, chilled water to commuters free. According to a Times of India report, no other metro project in country has offered the facilities free so far.
“We are building three toilets each for men and women and one seat for physically challenged persons at all 21 metro stations. These will be available only for commuters who pay using token or the Go-Smart card,” said an official, according to a TOI report.
The drinking water kiosk and toilet facilities will be available at the concourse level (above ground floor) which is accessible only after buying tokens to enter the paid area of the metro stations.
The LMRC says that while other metro stations earn revenue from these facilities, they have decided to give these services to public for free.
“The idea drew appreciation from ‘Metro Man’ E Sreedharan who came to inspect Lucknow Metro,” said an official of the LMRC.
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In order to prevent littering on the stations’ premises, LMRC will not keep disposable glasses or bottles near the kiosk and commuters will have to bring own bottles for refill. Officials say that the initiative will be an environment-conscious project, so they will discourage use of plastic at all metro stations.
Lucknow Metro is expecting commissioner of metro railway safety (CMRS) to inspect the depot and Lucknow Metro corridor around month-end and accordingly aims to begin commercial run of trains on priority section of 8.5km by mid-August.
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