Temperature rises but Metro-1 AC to stay at 23°C

With the heat already making its presence felt in the city, the operator of the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar Metro-1 corridor has said that it cannot reduce the air-conditioning temperature in the Metro below 23 degree Celsius, in reply to a commuter's complaint over the alleged non-functional AC.

Reliance Infrastructure-led Mumbai Metro One Private Limited (MMOPL) has maintained that it takes care to maintain the AC temperature as per industrial standards. Replying to the complaint, MMOPL said, "As per industrial guidelines, the AC in urban and suburban train coaches can go up to 32 degree Celsius depending upon the ambient temperature. We, on the other hand, cannot reduce the temperature inside the trains below 23 degree Celsius as this would be uncomfortable for most customers apart from making it energy inefficient and increasing carbon footprint."

MMOPL further said that every individual's comfort zone varies, "Considering various parameters, we maintain a temperature between 23 to 26 degree Celsius. There will always be a few people who, depending on their clothing, will not feel comfortable at 26 degree Celsius," said MMOPL. However, Harsh Gupta, the commuter who voiced his complaint on Twitter, said, "I disagree because inconvenience caused due to low temperatures can be managed by a jacket or scarf but heat, on the other hand, cannot."

An email query sent to MMOPL went unanswered.