After being shut for 169 days, metros across India, except in Mumbai are all set to resume in a graded manner from Monday. However, the corridors in COVID-19 containment zones will remain shut.
The resumption of metro services comes at a time when the several parts of the country are reportedly witnessing a second wave of COVID-19. Even though the government has, time and again, asserted that both lives and livelihood are important, several epidemiologists believe that resumption of the Metro will further increase the infection in the city.
Notably, metro services were suspended since March when PM Narendra Modi announced a nationwide lockdown to break the chain of the novel coronavirus.
Delhi: In the national capital, metro services will ply on the tracks in a phased manner. On Monday and Tuesday, only the yellow line, covering 49 kilometre with 37 stations consisting of 20 underground and 17 elevated stations, will remain operational for a period of four hours each in the morning from 7 am to 11 am and evening from 4 pm to 8 pm. “We have deployed police force at every metro station for crowd management and to ensure that people wear face masks and follow norms of social distancing”, said Atul Katiyar, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Delhi. To maintain orderliness and regulate flow of passengers with social distancing norms, only one or two gates will be kept open for entry and exit of passengers at a station. DMRC said that apart from regular frontline staff at the stations, it has made additional deployment of around 1,000 officials and staff across the line to assist and guide passengers in the wake of new norms of travel which may take some time to settle in.
Lucknow: Lucknow Metro also restored its operations from Monday. It will become the first metro service in India to use ultraviolet (UV) technology for token sanitisation for passenger safety. Issuing a statement, the Lucknow Metro said it has laid special emphasis on contactless travel, sanitisation, social distancing, hygiene and cleanliness. Various rigorous steps have been undertaken to ensure a safe and convenient commuting experience for passengers. Social distancing markers have been placed on alternate seats to maintain sufficient gap between passengers inside the train. Frequently touched areas inside trains like grab rails, grab poles, grab handles, passenger seats and door surfaces from the inside are sanitised regularly. Lucknow Metro has also become the first metro with cashless facility of multiple tokens/tickets with GoSmart card.
Noida: Commuters found travelling without face masks in the Noida-Greater Noida metro rail network will have to pay a fine of Rs 500 and those caught spitting will have to cough up Rs 100. These penalties will be imposed strictly by the NMRC staff so that commuters follow the guidelines and help the NMRC in preventing the spread of the coronavirus, it added.
The Union Home Ministry, in its Unlock 4 guidelines, has granted permission for the resumption of metro services from September 7 in a graded manner.
