Safe travel: DMRC to take a series of measures
“In accordance with the latest guidelines issued by the Home Office under Unlock-4, the Delhi Metro will resume its services to the public from September 7, 2020 onwards in a calibrated manner,” said Anuj Dayal, Director executive (corporate communications). DMRC. “More details about the operation of the Metro and its use by the general public will be shared once the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) issues the detailed SOP on the meters in the coming days,” he said.
“I am glad that the metro has been allowed to start operations from September 7 in a phased manner,” Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted on Saturday. Kejriwal had recently urged the center to allow subway operations to resume, albeit in a phased manner.
I am glad that the metro has been allowed to start operations from September 7 in a phased manner.
– Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) 1598712040000
While the Delhi metro will reopen after more than five months, a metro ride will no longer be the same. While DMRC sources said that initially, only government and PSU employees or those involved in essential services are likely to be authorized during peak hours and train operating hours are likely to be reduced as well. According to sources, the DMRC and other metropolitan areas in the country have been asked to discuss an SOP previously provided by MoHUA in a video conference on Tuesday and give their suggestions.
According to the latest guidelines, the Delhi Metro will resume its services for the public from September 7, 2020 at… https://t.co/kBxhPjaLKq
– Delhi Metro Railway Corporation (@OfficialDMRC) 1598713411000
The number of commuters on the trains would be drastically reduced to ensure social distancing, which will be the main focus of the DMRC and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), responsible for providing security in the Delhi metro, when services resume. Trains would also stop for longer on platforms to ensure passengers get on and off while maintaining social distancing, resulting in longer travel time.
Only one entrance would remain open at most of the 242 metro stations, taking into account which entry point has the highest influx. Extensive ‘leakage’ of travelers would be carried out through thermal scanning and regulation to avoid overcrowding within the station at the entrance and inside, both DMRC and CISF largely monitoring via CCTV cameras.
DMRC officials said reopening would be challenging and there would be initial problems initially, and alongside enforcement, an extensive “awareness” campaign will also be conducted for travelers to encourage self-regulation. The DMRC has delegated 487 officers to special duties in two shifts at all stations just to control social distancing, but in the event of a major rule challenge, the entrance to the stations would be closed and a train could also stop.
A senior CISF official said that additional staff could be used in CCTV control rooms to monitor people who do not maintain social distance or who do not wear masks within the station premises. In addition to monitoring security, CISF’s Rapid Reaction Teams (QRTs) are also likely to ride the subway to enforce social distancing within the train, authorities said.
“We are still waiting for the exact guidelines, but the CISF is prepared to enforce them and we have been preparing for this for the past few months. The CCTV room will be alerting teams on the ground to people not wearing masks or not following the rules. Our teams would also ride the subway earlier, but this time their focus will be to make sure people keep their distance and follow the new guidelines, ”said a senior CISF official, noting that violators will be turned over to the DMRC for criminal action.
On video: Delhi Metro will resume services from September 7 in a calibrated manner
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