Fast-track: How trains are readied for next shift in just 40 minutes

NEW DELHI: As soon as the clock strikes one in the afternoon, war-like preparations are seen at some Delhi Metro stations on the Yellow Line. An army of cleaners take position along the platform as empty trains roll in for sanitisation after the first shift. The work is completed within 40 minutes and a green signal is given to resume services at 4pm.

Delhi Metro has turned 12 stations into temporary halts so that 57 rakes running through the day are cleaned and sanitised there. This exercise is also being carried out at depots. In the extensive process, nearly 20 litres of cleaning solution are used to spray every corner and seat of the rakes to make them ready for the next lot of passengers.
Mohinder Yadav, a Delhi Metro spokesperson, said the process of sanitising the stations begins immediately after operations halt at 11am. However, the trains that begin their journey at 11am take at least 45 minutes to reach their destination. The rakes are sanitised only after all passengers have deboarded. “Taking 57 rakes to the depots for sanitisation is a mammoth task. That’s why we are using a few underground stations to speed up the process,” he added.
To begin services at 4pm, the trains have to be readied by 1.45pm. “It is a race against time. Each team of cleaners is armed with automatic spray guns and mops to clean every corner of the coaches. The cleanliness is visible to passengers when they enter the coach,” said Anil Kumar, an employee at Green Park metro station.
Once the rakes are cleaned, they are inspected by a team of officials who give the go-ahead for operations to resume. Kumar’s colleague, Mukesh, added that the most time consuming process was cleaning the handlebars of the rakes, which were most prone to contamination since they were touched by thousands of people while the train was on the move.
A specially-made chemical solution, which can be diluted with water, is being used by Delhi Metro for spraying on doors and windows. “We are using 10 litres of sanitisers and about 20 litres of the solution every day,” said Yadav.
A set of personal protection suits and gloves have been kept on standby for the cleaners to sanitise the rakes if any passenger is caught boarding the train with symptoms of Covid-19.
In Video:Delhi Metro resumes service from today: All you need to know