New Delhi: Just days before the third phase of the lockdown is supposed to expire, there's much speculation about whether Delhi Metro will resume its services or not. While no official comment has been made on the date of resumption of metro services by DMRC, preparations are underway to ready the metro stations for receiving passengers, hinting that the next phase of lockdown may see Delhi Metro services being resumed in a curtailed manner.
Commenting on the issue, Anuj Dayal, Executive Director at Delhi Metro said, "The decision to resume Metro rail services in Delhi NCR will be taken by the government after which the detailed protocol to be followed by passengers for traveling in the metro will be shared with the media and public."
At present, DMRC is taking up the necessary cleaning mechanisms inside the trains and indoor areas of stations such as entrance lobbies, corridors, staircases, escalators, elevators, security area etc.
Other necessary logistical arrangements such as provision for hand sanitization, thermal screening at stations and installation of social-distancing related signages are also being handled in the interim.
Reports have suggested that Delhi Metro services may resume on certain routes in Lockdown 4. The metro train services have been under suspension since March 22 and the resumption is subject to approval from the Delhi state government and the Central government. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had recently said that the fourth phase of the lockdown will have a completely different set of restrictions in place and that one will have to learn to live with the pandemic situation.
In the meanwhile, here is what DMRC has been doing in preparation: