Delhi Metro operations: After the Railways restarted 15 pairs of special AC trains, it is speculated that the Delhi Metro may also resume its operations post lockdown 3.0. However, there is no official order as in when the Delhi Metro will resume services.

Recently, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) took to Twitter to share that its housekeeping and other staff are busy cleaning and sanitizing AFC gates, lifts and escalators to begin safe operations. “Specially trained housekeeping staff are deployed in stations to clean passenger movement areas and associated equipment such as AFC gates, lifts and escalators to begin safe operations,” the DMRC said in a tweet.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is preparing a detailed protocol to ensure social distancing in trains and stations, as well as a plan on cleaning and maintaining once the Metro operations resume.

“The protocols for social distancing in our trains and premises are being worked upon,” said Anuj Dayal, executive director, DMRC.

In the post-COVID scenario, DMRC officials said, measures have to be taken to keep coaches and stations clean. “DMRC is working out the detailed cleaning and maintenance procedures in view of the pandemic. The exercise will be exhaustive as it involves cleaning and maintenance of 264 stations, over 2,200 coaches and more than 1,100 escalators and 1,000 lifts, apart from other infrastructure,” Dayal said.

The Union and Delhi governments are yet to take a final decision on restarting public transport in the Capital. The DMRC, which had shut its operations on March 21 evening, a day before the Janta Curfew, has been carrying out regular maintenance of its systems. “All systems of the Metro, including the signaling, electrical, rolling stock, tracks, and others, will have to be tested in detail before services are ultimately restarted, to ensure the safety of our commuters,” he said.

Delhi Chief-minister, Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday sought suggestions from people on relaxations for the fourth phase of coronavirus lockdown. One of the pertinent questions for the suggestion was if the metro rail services in the national capital should resume.

The proposed measures, as per the plan accessed by the new agency  are:

1) According to the DMRC guidelines issued earlier, passengers will have to get the Aarogya Setu app installed on their mobile phones to travel in Delhi Metro.

2) Passengers using the Delhi Metro, post resumption of operations, will have to take out any metallic items like belts and buckles before frisking and keep them in their bags which will be scanned by an x-ray machine.

3) The use of face masks will be mandatory when traveling in Delhi Metro. Hand sanitization or washing facility to be available at the entry points.

4) Social distancing will be followed in Delhi Metro post resuming of services. At least two meters distance shall be maintained between the security screening place and line-up points and a meter between passengers waiting at the security screening place

5) Passengers with abnormal temperatures will not be allowed to enter and persons with cold, cough and other flu-like symptoms will be denied entry.