Will Travelling In Delhi Metro Be The Same After It Reopens? Here’s All You Need To Know

The Delhi Metro will remain closed during Unlock 2.0, but will the experience of traveling in the metro change once it restarts?

Representative Image (PTI)

New Delhi: The most popular mode of public transport in the capital, Delhi Metro was not included in the list of things that could resume in Unlock 2.0, unlike Mumbai local which got an addition of 150 trains to service a part of its citizens. The Delhi Metro has been shut since March when the first lockdown was imposed in an effort to curb COVID-19 cases. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation tweeted yesterday after the announcement of Unlock 2.0 ‘In light of the guidelines issued by the government, Metro services will remain closed for commuters until further notice.” According to an India Times news report, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) officials say a loss of over Rs 600 crore during the lockdown and with the extension of the lockdown, the number has kept rising. The average ridership before the lockdown was over 26 lakhs. But even if the metro rails open in the future it will be very different from what Delhiites are used to. Social Distancing will be the norm and there might be a reduction in the number of riders per trip. According to reports from May, it was presumed that a total of 50 people will be allowed to travel in a coach and the longest eight-coach train will get 400 passengers at a time. Security Personnel will watch passengers through CCTVs to ensure that social distancing is followed. It may also be likely that one seat will have to be kept vacant between 2 passengers. Physical Frisking might also be stopped keeping in mind Social Distancing norms. ALSO READ| Section 144 Imposed In Mumbai; Check New Travel Rules & What All Remain Exempted From Restrictions Aside from metro rails, schools, colleges, and coaching institutions will remain closed till July 31, 2020 as well as cinema halls, gymnasiums, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, bars, auditoriums, assembly halls and similar places. All social/ political/ sports/ entertainment/ academic/ cultural/ religious functions and other large congregations are prohibited. Containment zones shall remain in lockdown till July 31.