Delhi Metro To Get Safer With Anti-Drag System To Prevent Saree And Bag Snags; DMRC Testing New Feature

In a major safety upgrade, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has started testing an anti-drag system to prevent passengers and their belongings from getting trapped in train doors, reported The Economics Times.

The initiative follows a tragic incident in December 2023, when a 35-year-old woman lost her life after her clothing got caught in a moving train’s door.

The DMRC has retrofitted one train with the system, which is currently undergoing trials. Over the next one to two years, it will install the technology in four more trains.

“Anti-drag is an advanced feature in the trains. If someone or something is stuck between gates, and if it senses pressure, it applies an emergency brake,” said DMRC Managing Director Vikas Kumar.

A DMRC official added, “DMRC has retrofitted one train with the anti-drag feature, which is under testing. Four more trains are also being fitted with the same. These trains will undergo detailed analysis and feedback, and based on the overall performance, the mechanism will be further explored for remaining trains or lines which may require the provision of this feature.”

The new system senses obstructions—even if the doors appear shut—and halts the train. It reduces the sensor threshold from 15mm to 7mm, although objects thinner than that may still go undetected.

DMRC is prioritising older lines for the upgrade, as newer corridors like the Pink and Magenta lines already use platform screen doors (PSDs). Meanwhile, in-train announcements urge passengers to stay cautious with loose clothing and bags while boarding or alighting.

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