In a shocking incident, a huge girder crushed a passing vehicle and seriously injured the driver, after it allegedly fell at a Metro construction site near the Ram Manohar Lohia hospital last week. Attributed to a crane malfunction, the falling debris destroyed the car, while the driver allegedly sustained multiple fractures, according to the sources. This comes hot on the heels of the widely reported Supratim Dutta incident, wherein an angle had gone through the body of the HCL employee after he met with an accident at the MG Road Metro site earlier this month. With rapid construction being undertaken across the city in the wake of the Commonwealth Games, these incidents raise questions on the safety measures employed by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and come as an eye opener for the authorities and people. In the recent past, it has been observed that the Delhi Metro has given rise to numerous problems. According to reports, the construction of the Gurgaon-Central Secretariat line has created havoc at the busy Aurobindo Marg near Green Park. The construction has brought the traffic to a standstill, and is a nightmare for pedestrians who risk their lives each time they cross the road. The deployment of marshals has also not helped in easing the situation, since their instructions are not followed by a majority of people. The situation is similar in most construction sites, specially near the central secretariat station. Also, safety needs to be ensured in the construction sites too. The DMRC officials accept that there have been mishaps in the past involving machine failure which have also hurt their employees Says a DMRC official on the condition of anonymity, "Yes, accidents do happen, but they happen at all construction sites and not just those of the Metro. We take precautions and also compensate the victims in case something unfortunate happens. The DMRC's sole objective is to ease the lives of Delhiites, and therefore the construction is meticulously planned. We ensure that the best work is done with minimal effect on the routine of people. The DMRC has employed marshals, but is it our fault if people are not ready to stop and obey their instructions." Cleanliness at Metro stations is yet another aspect which needs to be looked into. Recently, the chief minister of Delhi, Sheila Diskhit travelled in the Metro after commuters complained about the increasing litter at stations. In the inspection, she observed that some walls had seepage patches, and that cobwebs were growing at many places. Apart from spitting and littering, dust and dirt were also found accumulated near the flower pots at many Metro stations. She has instructed the DMRC to disseminate awareness among users to ensure that cleanliness levels return to earlier standards and to take all possible measures to project a better image. Says Nalini Gupta, a college student, "I commute mostly by the Metro. Even though I prefer it to buses any day, still there is a lot which can be improved. Many a times, I have seen chewing gums stuck under the seats, especially in Metros on the Vishwavidyalaya route. Another disturbing aspect is the careless way in which people board trains. It is a struggle when a sea of people are trying to get out of the gates like animals. Elbowing their way through, people show no regard towards girls, children or senior citizens. Even though the guards try to discipline passengers, yet the situation remains appalling." This grievance is seconded by many. The apathy displayed by people towards their fellow commuters, specially while boarding Metros is a disturbing trend. Even though the DMRC has specially installed LCD screens which show a visual, urging commuters to follow rules and stand in queues, it seems that they interpret the word "queue" as "kyun". Clearly, there is a need to educate people and punish defaulters to prevent a potential mishap. Introduced in 2002, the Metro has become an inseparable part of the lives of Delhiites. It has come a long way from being an object of fantasy, and is now a lifeline for thousands of commuters for whom it is the most favoured mode of transport. Yet, there remain many aspects which need to be looked into by the authorities to ensure that the Metro retains its tag of being the "Pride of Delhi".