New Delhi:
Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal has accepted a proposal from Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to resume metro services in the national capital from September 7, albeit with strict restrictions to maintain social distancing.
This follows a five-month shutdown because of the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown. The decision was taken by Mr Baijal at a meeting of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority, of which he is Chairperson, on Wednesday.
The use of masks and smart cards (to eliminate unnecessary physical contact from use of tokens) have been made mandatory for travel on Delhi Metro.
The air conditioning system inside coaches will be “renovated” to ensure circulation of fresh air, Delhi Transport minister Kailash Gahlot said
“We are yet to take a decision on what should be the optimum temperature inside the trains,” the minister told NDTV, adding that hand sanitiser would be provided at stations and thermal scans would be compulsory as well.
The minister also said trains would not stop at all stations; those that remain closed in the first days of the service’s re-start will be re-opened in phases.
“Those in containment zones will remain shut,” he added.
Metro rail services across India have been allowed to re-start this month in line with “Unlock” guidelines issued by the centre on Saturday.
Services will re-start in a graded manner, the centre said, with strict rules to minimise contact between people and stop the COVID-19 virus from spreading.
Agencies
