Metro reopening live updates: Delhi L-G accepts AAP government's proposal

Bengaluru: With Namma Metro likely to allow only smart card users when it resumes services on September 7, many passengers urged BMRCL to remove the Rs 50 minimum balance rule. In March 2019, BMRCL increased the minimum balance to Rs 50 from the previous Rs 8.50. In January this year, BMRCL reduced the discount for smart card users from 15% to 5%

Kolkata: The date of resumption of Metro’s commercial services has not been fixed yet, Metro Railway general manager Manoj Joshi said on Tuesday. When it resumes, no new smart card will be issued from counters. Selling tokens are off, for now. So, only those with existing smart cards, who can’t recharge them digitally, will be allowed to queue up at counters, maintaining social distancing. The Ministry of Home Affair’s Unlock 4 guidelines issued on Saturday had sought “graded” resumption of Metro services from September 7. Following this, the Bengal government on Monday notified that services could resume from September 8. In Bengal, there is a total lockdown on September 7.

Union minister for housing and urban affairs Hardeep Singh Puri will be making the announcement for SOPs/guidelines for safe commute through Metro Rails across the country at 3pm

The Delhi transport minister had earlier said his government will ensure that Covid-19 norms are followed by the commuters."We will ensure that social distancing is maintained in the metros. Thermal screening of passengers will be done at the entry. No tokens will be issued, smart cards and other digital methods of payment will be used," he had told ANI. "I am sure that once the metro gets operational, the crowd in the buses will also be reduced. I am happy that people are getting relief after 5 months," Gahlot added.

Delhi Metro operations are shut since March 22 (Janata curfew). After the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) permitted metro services in Unlock 4, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) announced that it will resume its services from September 7 in a calibrated manner.

Besides Baijal, Kejriwal, Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, Health Minister Satyendar Jain, Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot and other officials were present in the meeting.

In a meeting of Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) today, Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal approved Delhi government's proposal of resuming metro train services.

Union minister for housing and urban affairs Hardeep Singh Puri will announce SOP for reopening at 3pm at a press briefing

Aarogya Setu app won’t be mandatory for all Metro Rail commuters while all corporations would encourage people to use the app, according to sources privy to the finalisation of the standard operating procedure for resuming Metro Rail services from September 7.

There would be adequate availability of sanitisers and deployment of security personnel at stations and inside coaches to ensure that social distancing is maintained.

The housing and urban affairs ministry held a detailed discussion with the managing directors of all the Metro Rail corporations on Tuesday. While some norms will be common like marking space for passengers at a gap of six feet, longer halts at stations, no standing inside coach and mandatory wearing of masks, different Metro entities will come out with the guidelines specific to meet their local requirement.

"As per MHA's Unlock 4 guidelines, Metro rails are allowed to operate across India from September 7, 2020. Today we had an extensive discussion with CEOs of Metro Companies across the country on the SOP to ensure full safety of commuters. SOPs will be finalised and shared soon," secretary, MoHUA's account read.

The metro trains have been permitted to run from September 7