The subway trains will resume services in a staggered manner and the metros that have more than one line must open different lines from September 7 onwards in a staggered manner so that all corridors are operational on September 12, according to the standard operating procedures (SOPs) issued Wednesday. to restart metro services per Unlock 4 guidelines.
The stations that are in containment zones will remain closed, according to the guidelines issued by the Center.
“Daily hours of operation may be staggered initially, which should be gradually increased with the resumption of full revenue service by September 12, 2020. The frequency of trains will be regulated to avoid crowding of passengers at stations and in the trains, ”said the SOP.
The SOPs were finalized after discussions with the CEOs of 15 Metro rail corporations on Tuesday and with the approval of the Union Ministry of the Interior.
The Maharashtra government has decided not to restart the metro this month. Therefore, Mumbai Line-1 and Maha Metro operations will start from October 2020 or as decided by the state government.
According to its Unlock 4 plan issued on Saturday, the Interior Ministry had allowed subway services in a staggered fashion since September 7. The Interior Ministry had empowered the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs to issue the standard procedures to be adopted for the resumption of metro services.
To guarantee social distancing, adequate signage will be made at stations and inside trains. The use of a mask will be mandatory for all passengers and staff. Metro rail corporations can arrange to supply masks for payment to people who arrive without a mask, the guidelines said.
“Only asymptomatic people will be allowed to travel after a heat shield at the entrance to the stations. Symptomatic individuals should be advised to go to the nearby Covid Care Center / Hospital for testing or medical care. The use of the Aarogya Setu app should be encouraged, ”the SOP said.
The supply of disinfectants will be made at the entrance to the stations for passenger use.
The guidelines say that the use of smart cards and cashless / online transactions will be encouraged, but tokens can be used with proper sanitization.
“Operation of the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system according to the guidelines of the Central Department of Public Works (CPWD) and the Indian Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ISHRAE). The intake of fresh air in the air conditioning system will be increased as much as possible, ”said the SOP.
Metro’s rail corporations will maintain close ties with state police and local administration to regulate crowds outside the station and deal with contingencies, he added.
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