In Delhi, only Yellow line service on first two days, by Sept 12 all lines to function
After being shut for over five months, all Metro services will restart from September 7 across the country in a gradual manner, except in Maharashtra.
As per the new guidelines, Metro having more than one line will open different lines starting from September 7 onwards in a graded manner so that all corridors become operational by September 12. Daily hours of operations will be staggered for the first few days until it is fully operational by September 12. The frequency of trains will be regulated to avoid passenger crowding at stations and in trains.
Announcing the guidelines, Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said Metros having more than one line should open different lines starting from September 7 onwards in a graded manner so that all corridors become operational by September 12. As per the guidelines, only asymptomatic persons will be allowed after thermal screening, while symptomatic patients will be sent to the nearest hospital/Covid Care Centre. There are 17 Metro corporations in the country. According to the Ministry, Metro trains will not stop at stations where passengers are found not maintaining social distancing.
For the Delhi Metro, which is the largest and most successful Metro in the country, for the first two days only the Yellow Line from Samaypur Badli to Huda city centre will function from September 7. Initially, the Metro will be open from 7 am to 11 am and 4 pm to 8 pm till September 10. From September 11, the Metro will be functional from 7 am to 1 pm, 4 pm to 10 pm. Delhi Metro will run from 6 am to 11 pm from September 12.
The other routes of Delhi Metro — Blue Line, Pink Line & Gurgaon Line — will start operating from September 9. Red Line, Violet Line and Green Line will start from September 10. Magenta and Grey Lines will start from September 11. Airport Express Line will resume from September 12. There will be no token available at the stations. Those with smart-card are permitted to travel. To avoid physical contact between commuters and Metro employees, smart-cards need to recharged online.
The guidelines said wearing face masks will be mandatory for all passengers and staff. Metro Rail Corporations may make arrangements for supply of masks on payment basis to the persons arriving without a mask. Use of Aarogya Setu app will be encouraged. The guidelines said that the use of smart cards and cashless/online transactions will be encouraged but tokens can be used with proper sanitisation.
Passengers will be advised to travel with minimum luggage and avoid carrying metallic items for easy scanning. Stations/entry-exit gates in containment zones will be closed. In order to ensure social distancing, suitable markings at stations and inside trains will be done. The SOPs have been finalised following discussions with the managing directors of 15 Metro rail corporations on Tuesday and with the approval of the Union Home Ministry.
Provision of sanitisers will be made at all entry points in Metro stations. Sanitisation of all areas having human interface such as equipment, train, working area, lift, escalators, handrail, AFC gate, toilets etc. will be done at regular intervals. The train frequency will be longer to ensure sanitisation after each trip.
Puri said that the frequency of trains to be regulated to avoid passenger crowding at stations and in trains.
“This opening up will need to be reviewed. If we find that resumption of operations isn’t resulting to social distancing, crowding then we will have no option but to review these decisions. While we welcome the decision to resumption of services but we will have to continue to take caution and care. Resumption of economic activity is important but has to be done in a calibrated manner. We need the cooperation of the public and the commuters to ensure that prescribed norms are followed,” Puri said.
While all other Metro services are scheduled to resume, the Government of Maharashtra has decided not to resume services in September. The Maharashtra Government will commence Metro and monorail operation from October.
Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) chief Mangu Singh said after observing the operation and its impact, Delhi Metro will introduce Red Line (Ghaziabad to Rithala), the Bahadurgarh Line, and the Faridabad Line from September 10. In a bid to maintain social distancing, the authority decided to open selected gates for the entry at stations. There will be a separate gate for exit. Only asymptomatic patients are allowed commute Delhi Metro.