Unlock 4.0: Some Delhi Metro stations may stay shut

NEW DELHI: When Delhi Metro resumes operations after five months on September 7, not all its stations would open initially. Moreover, only government employees or certain categories of commuters would be allowed to travel, transport minister Kailash Gahlot said on Sunday.

“The operations will start with a few stations. This is the first time that Delhi Metro will be dealing with such a situation and will need some time to manage accordingly. Initially, only a limited number of people, such as government employees, will be allowed to travel to avoid crowding. Clarity will come on these aspects within a couple of days,” Gahlot said, adding that a list of stations where travel services were being restored was being prepared and would be made public soon.
The minister said, “I’m glad that after a long wait, the people of Delhi will be able to travel by metro once again. We will ensure that all Covid-related protocols, including social distancing, thermal screening, digital or card-based ticketing, etc, are strictly adhered to. Delhi government will deploy civil defence volunteers at every station to ensure social distancing.”
Thermal screening of passengers would be done at all the entry points. “Tokens will not be issued and commuters will only be allowed to use smart cards or other digital payment methods for purchasing tickets. We will ensure that the general public does not face any kind of difficulties,” Gahlot said.
“Resumption of metro services will provide great relief to people. Just like plying of buses was started, we will restore metro services by strictly taking care of all protocols and precautions,” Gahlot said, adding that the mandatory one-metre distance between passengers would be maintained inside the trains and seats would be marked to ensure social distancing.
While sanitisers would be provided at every station, wearing a mask would be mandatory. “Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) officials and policemen posted at the stations have been given the power to issue a challan to passengers violating the norms. Air-conditioning in the coaches will be operated as per new guidelines. A constant flow of fresh air will be maintained inside the trains,” said the minister.
Gahlot said he would be meeting the DMRC managing director Mangu Singh to discuss the standard operating procedures (SOP) to be followed when operations restart.
A detailed SOP on metros is likely to be issued by Union ministry of housing and urban affairs in the next few days. DMRC and other metros in the country had been asked to discuss the SOPs provided by the ministry via videoconferencing on Tuesday and give their suggestions.
“Once metro services resume from September 7, DMRC will try and facilitate all necessary measures and precautions within its premises to provide a safe travelling experience to commuters,” said Anuj Dayal, executive director (corporate communication), DMRC.
According to the SOPs provided by the ministry earlier, all metro rail corporations would have to ensure that their systems were in safe and healthy condition before resumption of revenue service, including those pertaining to electrical, signalling, civil, track, trains, traction, etc.
As most of the trains had not been rigorously used for five months, a mandatory check would be required for safety certification even though it would not be possible to undertake this immediately as DMRC has 2,200 coaches.
DMRC has started a social media campaign to inform commuters about the safety measures being undertaken, including sanitisation of trains and all human touch areas at stations. SOPs have also been put in place for sanitisation of different sections of stations at different intervals, ranging from once a day for the entire premises to every four hours for human contact areas, like handrails and elevator buttons.
The stations would be disinfected thoroughly at night. The exercise would be carried out through the day at passenger movement areas, such as concourse, passages, platforms, stairs, etc, by DMRC’s 8,000-strong housekeeping staff. Trains would be cleaned and disinfected thoroughly at depots before the start of services. Human touch points inside trains would be cleaned at terminal stations after every trip.
Sources said sanitisers, gloves and masks would be given to all DMRC personnel dealing with the public. They have also been sensitised to maintain social distancing in crew control areas, operations control rooms and station control rooms. Detailed instructions on dos and don’ts for staff would also be displayed at stations and depots.
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