Cities like Delhi, Bengaluru, Jaipur, Lucknow and Hyderabad restarted the metro services from the 7th of September.
Nearly five months after the suspended metro services it began with all the protective measures and complete social distancing.
Since the 24th of March, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the first lockdown, the metro services in Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi and Hyderabad are shut.
While Delhi and Hyderabad resumed metro operations from the 7th of September, Kolkata would begin from the 8th of September.
Due to the biweekly lockdown, West Bengal is having one day lockdown on the 7th of September, therefore, metro services would begin from the 8th of September.
In addition, the Maharashtra Government is yet to take a decision on the resumption of metro services.
The commuters are asked to download the Arogya Setu app and wear face masks. The stations of metro lines are being sanitized and staff have been deployed to ensure everyone at the station follows social distancing.
At the entrance of the metro stations, there is a thermal scanning happening and people with symptoms of COVID-19 or high temperature are not allowed to travel through the metro.
According to the guidelines of the Central Government, there would be no stop at the containment zones.
Many metros in India encouraged online transactions and contactless tokens for travel.
Speaking about metro services in Hyderabad, a commuter said, “I am really happy to be travelling in the metro again. It is a huge relief. Since there is no rush and authorities ensure only a limited number of people travel in the trains, it has become much easier than pre-Covid days. People are also responsibly following all safety measures.”
In Hyderabad 29 km long L.B.Nagar to Miyapur metro line is functional from 7:00 A.M., to 11:00 P.M.
In Delhi, the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said, “I am happy that Delhi Metro services resume today. Metro has made good arrangements. We should not be careless in taking precautions.”
A.K. Garg, the Director of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation said, “I’ve interacted with the passengers on the way from Malviya Nagar to Rajiv Chowk to gauge their reactions. They all were satisfied with the preparations done by the DMRC and were confident about the safety. There is an arrangement of sanitisation, thermal screening, social distancing at the station.”
In Chennai, the Tamil Nadu Industries Minutes M.C. Sampath took the first metro ride and expressed satisfaction over the arrangements before resumption of the metro services.
The metro services are approved under the Unlock 4.0., by the Central Government.
Stay tuned for further updates.
