After Air India drew up a "high quality handling" protocol for India's nearly 800 MPs, a parliamentary panel is learnt to have sought similar privileges on the Delhi Metro.

"Delhi Metro has been asked to devise a protocol for MPs wherein staff would be appointed to receive them at stations, facilitate their movement, and assist them in boarding the trains," said a government source in the know.

The "courtesies" may even include a separate ticket counter for MPs, sources said.

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) chief Mangu Singh was among those present at a meeting that the House Committee of the Lok Sabha had with Metro officials on May 17. Committee chairman J P Agarwal, the Congress MP from North-east Delhi, denied having sought special treatment from DMRC.

"As laymen, we just wanted to know what are the facilities extended by the Metro and their guidelines, so that we can create awareness among members," Agarwal said. He said the committee had not given any directions for the formulation of a separate protocol for MPs.

Sources present at the meeting said MPs cited the example of Air India's protocol while prodding the Metro chief to come up with a similar plan. A DMRC spokesperson said, "MPs had queries regarding the timing and procedures adopted for the Airport Express line. We have forwarded the information to the urban development ministry for onward transmission to those concerned."

Madhu Goud Yakshi, the Congress MP from Nizamabad, Andhra Pradesh, who was present at the meeting, said, "It is neither practical nor moral on the part of MPs to ask or demand for something like this."

On the special protocol devised by Air India for MPs, details of which were reported by The Sunday Express on June 3, Agarwal said, "We did not direct them (AI) on any circular."

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