Popular among the locals and tourists alike, the Delhi Metro is hailed as the backbone of Delhi NCR. Delhi Metro operates 389 KM of Metro network with 285 stations in Delhi-NCR including Rapid Metro in Gurugram and Aqua Line of Noida-Greater Noida Metro.
About 70% of Delhi Metro passengers used to travel by using Smart Cards. Overall passenger journeys performed in a day before the Covid-19 stuck our country was around 60 lakhs. After a five-month shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic (169 days to be precise), the Delhi metro is running in Delhi again.
The Delhi Metro is ready to resume its services, which were suspended since 22nd March 2020 from 7th September 2020. Since the operation of Delhi metro services in Unlock 4 will be in a gradual yet staggered manner, various important notifications are issued by DMRC.
These important Delhi Metro travel Guidelines must be kept in mind by all of us who are going to use the Delhi Metro services.
Delhi Metro Travel Guidelines, Timings & Precautions
The Delhi Metro routes for the resumed metro services will be reponed gradually from the 7th of September 2020 to the 12th of September 2020, over a period of 5 days, in a strategically designed manner.
On the first day, the yellow line of the Delhi Metro (Samaypur Badli to HUDA city center) and Rapid Metro Gurgaon will run. The rest of the Delhi Metro lines will also be made operational with all safety measures in place one by one.
What will be different as metro rides begin again in Delhi? Here’s all you need to know, based on the guidelines issued by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).
1. Delhi Metro is having only 1 gate for the entry of passengers and another single gate for the exit of passengers.
Gate for entry and exit are separate for the smooth operations of Delhi Metro services. The passengers are advised to check the earmarked Gate number/location well in advance from the DMRC website.
2. Delhi Metro will resume its operations in a graded manner by following a phased run of the metro in 3 stages.
Stage 1, services will begin on the Yellow Line and Rapid Line on September 7. In phase 2, metro services will restart on the Blue Line and Pink Line on September 9. Last, in phase 3, metro services will begin on the Red, Green, and Violet lines on September 10.
3. The stoppage time of Delhi Metro trains at every station has been increased to ensure passengers don’t rush and don’t violate the social distancing norms.
Thus, the gap between two consecutive Delhi Metro trains will go up by 3 to 6 minutes. Passengers are advised to keep some extra time at hand and leave early from home.
4. The Delhi Metro train timings have also changed keeping in view the time interval required for sanitization of Delhi Metro.
From September 7 to 10, the trains will be available between 7 AM to 11 AM and 4 PM to 8 PM. From September 11, the metro trains will be available from 7 AM to 1 PM, 4 PM to 10 PM. From September 12, the trains will run from 6 AM to 11 PM.
5. Metro trains in Delhi will not stop at containment zones. Those stations will remain closed.
The particular days on which Delhi Metro won’t stop at a particular station will be notified to public by DMRC. If it is found that commuters are disobeying social distancing rules at any station, the metro trains will completely skip those stations.
6. Parking facilities at the Delhi Metro stations will remain open but feeder bus services will stay suspended.
While you are in the DMRC parking areas, you must wear mask, follow social distancing, and use sanitizers.
7. Delhi Metro authorities have prohibited the use of tokens until the COVID-19 pandemic is over.
The Delhi Metro Smart Card is very economical for daily commuters and can be recharged online from anywhere. Thus, it requires little or no contact with fellow human beings or environment. Also, they can be detected when close to the scanners at entry and exit points without touching.
Passengers using the metro services in Delhi are supposed to use smart cards as tokens are not being used for preventive measures. Those who don't have the Delhi Metro Smart Card can buy it from the stations.
8. Being in the Delhi Metro premises and in the metro coaches would require everyone to follow a new normal of social distancing, face mask, and hand sanitization.
Yellow stickers are marked within the metro premises and in the metro coaches, to remind people to follow social distancing. While on the escalator, in the lift, near the security checking points, on the platforms, etc. you need to stand at a distance from fellow passengers.
Anyone found violating these preventive measures for COVID-19 can be penalized and not allowed to enter the Delhi Metro premises.
9. Hand-sanitizers for public use will be available at the entry and exit gates of the Delhi metro stations that are open.
While entering and exiting the Delhi Metro stations, passengers will have to sanitise their hands as a compulsory step. While they are in the train coaches and touch anything, they need to use their personal sanitizers.
The passengers are also advised to keep only pocket-size hand sanitizers, if any, during the travel. Hand sanitizers will not be permitted beyond 30 ml quantity.
10. Passengers are advised to travel light, with minimum luggage and belongings.
This will not only ensure a faster security check and thermal screening but also prevent any chances of spreading the pandemic.
11. At the entry points, passengers have to mandatorily undergo thermal screening.
Only the passengers with temperatures in the defined range will be allowed to board the Delhi Metro. Other passengers with COVID-19 symptoms will be directed to the nearest medical center.
The resumption of Delhi Metro services with a new normal to prevent the spread of Covid-19 desires the public to understand and co-operate with DMRC/CISF personnel while using the services.
While the Delhi Metro authorities have taken good care of a comfortable and safe commuting experience, they need public support and discipline to fight this pandemic better.
12. The temperatures of Delhi Metro Stations will be kept at 28 degree celsius and air-conditioning in the coaches will be controlled.
As per the latest guidelines for COVID-19, Delhi Metro will ensure recirculation of outdoor air in the coaches instead of recirculating the indoor air. Also, the tunnels will have exhaust fans for air circulation. This will help in preventing the spread of COVID-19.
The resumption of Delhi Metro services with a new normal to prevent the spread of Covid-19 desires the public to understand and co-operate with DMRC/CISF personnel while using the services. While the Delhi Metro authorities have taken good care of a comfortable and safe commuting experience, they need public support and discipline to fight this pandemic better.
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