New Delhi: The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has issued an advisory for the passengers to keep extra time in their commute hours as a train would only carry 25 persons each coach from now onwards. The advisory came after the yellow alert was issued in Delhi as per its Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to tackle the Covid-19 surge.
On Thursday, DMRC’s official Twitter handle tweeted, “An 8 coach Metro train can generally carry about 2400 passengers. This comprises approximately 50 seating passengers and 250 standing passengers per coach. With present restrictions of 50% seating and no standing, each coach can now accommodate only about 25 passengers.”
It further added, “Therefore, an 8 coach train can now accommodate approximately 200 passengers only. This is less than 10 percent of a train's normal carrying capacity. Therefore, travel only if absolutely essential.”
Amid the rising cases of covid-19 in the country, with Delhi contributing the second-highest Omicron cases in the tally, DMRC has decided to reduce the train capacity to ensure social distancing.
However, that means the commuters have to wait outside the metro stations in long queues which takes more time than usual. Due to the same, DMRC also said, “Also keep extra time in your commute by the Metro as entry has to be regulated to ensure compliance with the guidelines which is resulting in the queue's outside stations.”
As per GRAP, if covid-19 cases increase in Delhi, the next step to be followed is the amber alert, which would mean more strict restrictions. Delhi reported 320 Omicron positive cases in the last 24 hours with 57 recoveries. it reported nearly 1000 covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours.