Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Delhi metro train services are likely to resume from September 1, government sources said on Monday. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will issue special guidelines for this purpose, added the sources.
Metro services were suspended in late March to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus, which has infected more than 31 lakh people in the country so far. The services may be allowed when the ‘Unlock 4’ phase in the graded reopening from the coronavirus-induced lockdown will begin.
“I have requested the Centre that Delhi should be treated differently. Corona situation is improving in Delhi. If they do not want to run Metro trains in other cities, let it be so. But, in Delhi Metro train services should be started in a phased manner on a trial basis. We have raised this issue before the Centre many times, I hope the Centre will soon take a decision in this regard,” he had said.The chief minister had also said that markets and roads in Delhi would be beautified on the lines of the Chandni Chowk.
A senior CISF functionary said its precautionary drill for safe re-opening of Metro services is in place and only a direction from the home ministry is needed to operationalise the same. The announcement would spell relief for both the commuters as well as DMRC that has been suffering huge losses due to protracted Metro shutdown. In all likelihood, Metro services will be resumed in phased manner and require strict adherence to social distancing norms both in the coaches as well as at the stations.
