Except Maharashtra, Metro services to resume in other states from Monday; normal operations from September 12

NEW DELHI: Metro train operation across states will resume services from next Monday by operationalising one corridor each barring Maharashtra, which has two Metro train services - one each in Mumbai and Nagpur - and the Mumbai monorail.
While giving details of the standard operating procedure (SOP) for resuming Metro train operations, Union housing and urban affairs minister, Hardeep Singh Puri said this will happen in a “graded manner” and by September 12, all lines will be made operational. Besides Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Bengaluru, all other cities where Metro rails operate have only one line. Hence except these four cities, the Metro rail operation will resume fully from Monday.
Different Metro rail corporations will come out with their respective SOPs considering local conditions.
“The Government of Maharashtra has decided not to resume operation of Metro during September. Hence, Mumbai Line-1 and Maha Metro operations shall commence from October or as the state government may decide further,” the housing and urban affairs ministry said.
Puri said stations falling under containment zones will remain closed and only asymptomatic passengers will be allowed to board trains after thermal checking at station gates. “The trains can skip stations to maintain social distancing. There will be frequent service to meet the requirement. People should travel with minimum luggage and metallic items for easy checking...cautions and care should be followed by everyone,” the minister said.
While it will be mandatory for passengers to wear a mask, maintain social distancing at stations and inside coaches, use of the Aayogya Setu app won’t be mandatory as it was reported in TOI on Wednesday. Passengers will be encouraged to use the app and to avoid buying tokens.
“The trains won’t stop at stations where social distancing or other norms are violated by any passenger. The driver will get immediate alert of such violations, which will be monitored by CCTV cameras,” said urban affairs secretary Durga Shankar Mishra.
Puri said there will be a review of the situation and operation of Metro trains and state authorities will take the call on aspects of the operation. Metro rail corporations will maintain close liaison with state police and local administration for regulating crowds outside stations and to deal with contingencies.
Based on the guidelines issued by the Centre the Metro corporations of Delhi, Noida, Chennai, Kochi, Bangalore, Mumbai Line-1, Jaipur, Hyderabad, Maha Metro (Nagpur), Kolkata, Gujarat and UP Metro (Lucknow) have prepared their SOP, the ministry said.