CISF formulates post-lockdown safety measures for airports and Delhi Metro

Bharti Jain | TNN | Apr 22, 2020, 09:39 IST

NEW DELHI: With indications emerging that aviation and Metro train services may be first modes of transport to resume after lockdown, CISF has formulated post-lockdown safety measures for the two key sectors secured by it — airports and Delhi Metro.
While business continuity plan for safe air travel was forwarded on April 8 to the officers in-charge of security at various airports, CISF is now finalising similar norms for Delhi Metro service, including restricting the number of entrances at each metro station to just one or two, setting up sanitising tunnels, mass thermal scanning of commuters and marking seats/spots in coaches that must remain empty to maintain social distancing.
“We had earlier framed guidelines of safe air travel post-lockdown. Now CISF is also formulating SOPs for post-lockdown safety of metro sector. We are working on putting in place a system that will allow an immediate feedback on any passenger in the crowd who has high temperature. Individual reading of of commuters with a hand-held temperature gun is not ideal given the high metro traffic. The thermal scanner will send out an alarm upon detecting high temperature in a crowd, enabling rapid feedback and cutting response time,” CISF director general Rajesh Ranjan told TOI.
TOI has learnt that airlines may resume operations on a limited scale after May 3 though a final call will be taken closer to that date. Seating plan in aircraft may require passengers to be seated in a Z-formation, leaving two seats in each row empty, said a source.
Sanitising tunnels have been recommended by CISF for both airports and metro. CISF SOPs on preventing Covid-19 spread in metro, likely to be submitted to DMRC early next week, also look to limit entrances to each metro station to just one or maximum two. “This will make security screening easier. We will also set a protocol on businesses operating from metro stations, which will require their staff to wear masks, common surfaces to be sanitised and careful handling of cargo inflow and outflow,” said Ranjan.
While DRDO model of sanitising tunnel may be adopted, CISF is still studying which chemicals can be sprayed on those passing through the tunnel without adverse health effects associated with long and frequent exposure.
With running metro coaches with a lesser carrying capacity inevitable post-lockdown, spaces in between two passenger seats may be marked with a ‘cross’ to indicate that they must be left vacant.
Also giving paramount importance to safety of CISF personnel deployed at airports and in metro stations, the force shall be ensuring appropriate social distancing measures. CISF is augmenting its stock of face-masks, hand gloves, alcohol based sanitisers, PPEs, so as to have sufficient numbers available for 2-3 months. An option is to use a modified version of PPE, which possibly covers full face, in high-risk areas. Quick reaction teams handling law and order situation at airports may be given PPEs.
"CISF personnel have been doing exemplary work in helping the authorities fight Covid-19 and large-heartedly offering food, masks and rations to the needy from their own stocks. Their safety and fitness is our clear priority,” said CISF DG.