A passenger wearing a face mask catches a train at a Delhi Metro train station on the first day of its restart of operations amid the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in New Delhi, India, on September 7, 2020. REUTERS / Adnan Abidi
However, DMRC chief Mangu Singh said services have been resumed for the benefit of the people and to revive economic activity.
- IANS New Delhi
- Last update: September 9, 2020 7:17 PM IST
- FOLLOW US:
Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) CEO Mangu Singh said that running the metro at the current low capacity is not economically feasible, but that services have been resumed to benefit the people and rekindle economic activity.
Singh said the metro will not be able to accommodate more than 12-15 lakh people per day, compared to pre-Covid figures of 60 lakh. “Even if 12 lakh people come, it will still not be financially viable. We will be financially viable only if it reaches 60 lakh. Anything less than that is not financially viable,” he said.
Singh, however, added: “We are not thinking about viability or the financial aspect at this time. The reopening of operations is not only because of financial viability but because of service and participation in economic activity.”
The Delhi Metro, the lifeblood of the city and the National Capital Region, resumed its services on 7 September in a phased manner. During the shutdown, it incurred a revenue loss of more than Rs 1,500 million, about Rs 10 million per day on average.
In addition to this, the DMRC had also received loans from the Japan International Cooperation Agency. Although the DMRC is responsible for repaying the loan, the central government had taken it from JICA, which the DMRC repays.
“At this time, we have only asked the central government for loan repayment deferral, as the loan repayment should be made only to them. We have written to them. This is still under discussion as to how it can be done,” Singh said.
Alluding to the financial crisis, he said no request has yet been made to the government to seek support. “We are still not clear on how much the deficit will be, what the traffic will be now and how much we can recover in six months or so. Maybe in a month or two there will be a clear picture.”
The central government resumed subway service at a time when the capital city is reportedly witnessing a second wave of viral infection. Although the government has claimed time and again that both life and livelihood are important, several epidemiologists believe that the resumption will increase infection in the city.
However, Singh played down these fears.
“Studies have been conducted abroad to establish that public transport does not result in the spread of infection. Metros have been operating in many countries. We believe that our system will not contribute to infection,” he said.
.
