Delhi Metro Rail Corporation is preparing to start operating the Metro trains from next month. It is being told that Metro trains are expected to begin working in Delhi-NCR from the first week of September. DMRC Executive Director (Public Relations) Anuj Dayal, Chief Public Relations Officer of DMRC, has already said that all arrangements for prevention of coronavirus infection have been made at Delhi Metro trains and stations. Metro trains will start operating with permission from the central government. It is being told that the Delhi government has sent a proposal to the Center, in which only the government employees will be allowed to travel in the first week of the Metro operations. After this, the review will be done, and if the conditions are right, trains will be provided for everyone.

DMRC made these arrangements

Due to Coronavirus infection, DMRC has made all arrangements from the metro station premises to trains. Its purpose is to protect the passengers from coronavirus infection and also not to let it spread. In this regard, the DMRC has already prepared the standard operating procedure related to the operation of trains. 

• Initially, the government emergency services and other class passengers will be exempted when the Metro trains start operating.
• For physical distance in metro trains, stickers have been placed on the separate seat, leaving one position in each coach, which is written – ‘It is forbidden to sit here’.
• Once the Metro starts operating, only 50 per cent of passengers will be able to travel in each coach. This means that in the five coach metro train, only 200 passengers can go in the same six coach train.
• Passengers will be prompted for smart cards instead of tokens. Under this, the ‘Autopay’ smart card has an auto-debit facility for recurring payments which has recently been launched by the National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI).
• Passengers will not get admission in the metro station premises if they get symptoms of cold, cold and fever.
• Such passengers will be identified at the metro station gate itself.
• Downloading Arogya Setu App on the mobile phone will be mandatory for travellers.
• The token will not be given, but only the passengers holding the smart card will be able to travel.
• The metro train will stop for more than 30 seconds as compared to the earlier to ensure physical distance rules.