New Delhi: Non-contact pat-down of passengers, who will pass through multiple door-sized metal detectors, checking them for fever or flu-like symptoms, and restricted entry to stations are among a number of measures proposed by the CISF for the Delhi Metro, which may have opened in September after being closed for five months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The paramilitary force guarding the metro network in the national capital region has drawn up a new “business continuity plan” to be implemented in “consultation” with the Ministry of Urban Development and the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).
The force has also suggested encouraging commuters to download the Aarogya Setu mobile app and intensify manual and electronic surveillance of all activities at metro facilities, in addition to various measures to maintain social distancing.
The plan has been prepared to ensure that the health and safety of metro staff and passengers are not compromised and to enable robust counterterrorism coverage during the times of COVID-19 at the more than 230 rapid transit system stations throughout railway, often called the ‘lifeline’ of Delhi-NCR.
The government is likely to allow the resumption of metro train services in the ‘Unblocking 4’ phase from 1 September and the Union Ministry of the Interior is expected to issue the new guidelines at any time.
According to the plan of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) accessed by the PTI, the force has proposed that the Aarogya Setu mobile application should be “reviewed for all travelers entering the station.”
A senior official said that while the force has not stressed that the app should be mandatory, passengers can be encouraged to download it for a smooth ride.
“Those who do not have the application for any reason will also be able to use the subway,” he said.
The app helps determine a person’s COVID-19 health status, even if the person has been exposed to someone who is infected.
The force has also mandated that all of its service troops have the app on their phones so that “contact tracing” can be better performed once someone positive for the viral disease is detected.
Travelers will be asked to take out their metal items and put them in their bags and then go through several door frame metal detectors (DFMDs) before conducting a “contactless search.”
Trays will be provided to those travelers who have bags to store their metal belongings, he said.
A special CISF staff will monitor the DFMD to “profile” the passenger from a security point of view and a physical search of a traveler will only be carried out when there is a “reasonable doubt”, he said.
“The non-contact search will be done using a handheld metal detector at a minimum distance of 2.5 cm,” the plan said.
He added that while passenger bags will be checked as usual through the X-ray scanner, the same passengers will have to open the suspicious bags for CISF officials to inspect.
The rules of physical distancing will be enforced “strictly” within the station area and a distance of two meters will be maintained between the registration and alignment points and a distance of one meter will be maintained between the passengers waiting at the security point. , said.
The force has said that not all the doors of a subway station will be opened and that “the entry of passengers at all times may be restricted to the maximum number of people possible, taking into account the commonly accepted social distancing norm of 2 meters away. mutual between people “. said.
The use of masks will be mandatory and DMRC staff will monitor the body temperature of each passenger just before the security check, he said.
“Participants with abnormal temperatures will be denied entry. Likewise, people with colds, coughs and other flu-like symptoms will be denied entry,” he said.
The force will also maintain personal protective equipment (PPE) suits in the station area to handle “suspicious” passengers and suitcases, and CISF personnel searching passengers will also wear face shields in addition to masks and gloves. regular as stipulated in COVID-19. medical protocol.
The force has asked the DMRC to ensure regular disinfection of its equipment, X-ray area and its devices, even as it will rely heavily on technical surveillance tools to monitor activities in and around the stations.
“Electronic and manual surveillance will be intensified to closely monitor all activities at the metro facilities,” he said.
“Passengers will be warned through regular advertisements to maintain social distancing and stores and other commercial establishments will be asked to ensure social distancing at their locations by marking areas,” he said.
The CISF has deployed a contingent of approximately 10,000 men and women to protect the Delhi Metro network.
This story was published from a news agency feed with no changes to the text. Only the title has been changed.
.
