New Delhi (NVI): Metro operations will resume across the country from September 7 in a graded manner, except Maharashtra, Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri announced today.
While announcing the SOP guidelines at a press conference here, Puri said masks will be mandatory for metro passengers and staff. Only asymptomatic persons will be allowed to travel in the metro and Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) system will be used to contain any Covid-19 infection from spreading.
“Metros having more than one line should open different lines starting from 7th September, 2020 onwards in a graded manner so that all corridors become operational by 12th September 2020,” the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs said in a statement.
Daily hours of operations may be staggered initially, which needs to be increased gradually with resumption of full revenue service by 12th September. “Frequency of trains to be regulated to avoid passenger crowding at stations and in trains,” as per the Ministry.
Apart from that stations/entry-exit gates in containment zones will remain closed. In order to ensure social distancing, suitable markings at stations and inside trains will be done.
Metro rail corporations may make arrangements for supply of masks on payment basis to the persons arriving without mask, as per the SOPs.
“Only asymptomatic persons to be allowed to travel after thermal screening at entry into the stations. Symptomatic persons should be advised to go to nearby COVID Care Centre/Hospital for testing/medical attention. Use of Aarogya Setu App to be encouraged,” the Ministry said in its fresh set of guidelines.
Other highlights of the SOPs include:
(i) Provision of sanitizers to be made at entry into the stations for use by passengers. Sanitization of all areas having human interface viz. equipment, train, working area, lift, escalators, handrail, AFC gate, toilets etc. needs to be done at regular intervals.
(ii) Use of Smart Card and cashless/online transactions to be encouraged. Tokens and paper slips/ticket to be used with proper sanitization.
(iii) Adequate dwell time at stations to be provided to enable smooth boarding/deboarding ensuring social distancing. Metro rail corporations may also resort to skipping of stations to ensure proper social distancing.
(iv) Passengers to be advised to travel with minimum luggage and avoid carrying metallic items for easy and quick scanning.
(v) Operation of Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) system as per the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) & Indian Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ISHRAE) guidelines. Intake of fresh air in air-conditioning system to be increased to the extent possible.
(vi) Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaign to be launched for passenger and staff through electronic/print/social media, poster, banner, hoarding, website etc.
(vii) Metro rail corporations to keep close liaison with state police and local administration for regulating crowd outside station and to deal with contingencies.
Based on these guidelines, Delhi, Noida, Chennai, Kochi, Bangalore, Mumbai Line-1, Jaipur, Hyderabad, Maha Metro (Nagpur) Kolkata, Gujarat and UP Metro (Lucknow) have prepared their SOPs, the Ministry said.
Meanwhile, the Government of Maharashtra has decided not to resume operation of metro during September. Hence, Mumbai Line-1 and Maha Metro operations shall commence from October or as State Government may decide further, the release added.
-ARK
