Only asymptomatic persons to be allowed to travel on metros: Centre

In its standard operating procedure (SOP) for metro rail services beginning from Spetember 7, the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has directed that only asymptomatic persons will be allowed to travel by metro rail after going through thermal screening at the station entrance.

New Delhi:The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) on Wednesday said that it has decided to allow only asymptomatic persons to travel by metro rail after thermal screening at the station entry, as services in all states except Maharashtra are set to resume from September 7.

The Ministry has also made wearing of face masks mandatory for all passengers and staff. "Metro rail corporations may make arrangements for supply of masks on payment basis to the persons arriving without mask," a standard operating procedure (SOP) issued by the MOHUA said.

"Only asymptomatic persons are allowed to travel after thermal screening at entry into the stations. Symptomatic persons should be advised to go to nearby COVID care centre hospital for testing and medical attention. Use of Aarogya Setu App to be encouraged," the SOP said.

As part of Unlock phase 4, the central government had decided to resume metro operations in a graded manner.

Stations' entry-exit gates in containment zones will be closed. In order to ensure social distancing, suitable markings at stations and inside trains should be done, the SOP released by MoHUA Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said.

It added that provision of sanitizers will have to be made at entry into the stations for use by passengers. Further, sanitisation of all areas having human interface - equipment, train, working area, lift, escalators, handrail, AFC gate, toilets etc will have to be carried out at regular intervals.

Read:Resumption of metro service could further transmit COVID-19 infection, ICMR official

The ministry in its SOP also encouraged use of smart card and cashless, online transactions. "Tokens and paper slips-tickets to be used with proper sanitization," it said.

Further, the ministry also directed that adequate dwell time at stations will have to be provided to enable smooth boarding and deboarding, ensuring social distancing. Metro rail corporations may also resort to skipping of stations to ensure proper social distancing.

According to the SOP, passengers should be advised to travel with minimum luggage and avoid carrying metallic items for easy and quick scanning.

Operation of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system will have to follow the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) & Indian Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ISHRAE) guidelines.

"Intake of fresh air in the air-conditioning system to be increased to the extent possible," it said.

Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaign to be launched for passenger and staff through electronic/print/social media, poster, banner, hoarding, website etc, the ministry said.

The SOP said that metro rail corporations will keep close liaison with state police and local administration for regulating crowds outside stations and to deal with contingencies.

Officials said that based on the new guidelines, Delhi, Noida, Chennai, Kochi, Bangalore, Mumbai Line-1, Jaipur, Hyderabad, Maha Metro (Nagpur), Kolkata, Gujarat, and UP Metro (Lucknow) have prepared their SOPs.

Read:'Govt will ensure social distancing in Delhi metro trains'

Pertinently, the government of Maharashtra has decided not to resume operation of metro in September. The Mumbai Line-1 and Maha Metro operations shall commence from October.

The SOP further said that metros having more than one line should open different lines in a graded manner so that all corridors become operational by September 12.

"Daily hours of operations may be staggered initially, which needs to be increased gradually with resumption of full revenue service by September 12. Frequency of trains to be regulated to avoid passenger crowding at stations and in trains," the SOP said.

On Tuesday, the Housing Ministry consulted with MDs of all metro corporations across India before finalizing the SOPs for smooth resumption of metro rail service.

Read:MHA issues Unlock 4 guidelines; Metro allowed to resume from Sept 7