NEW DELHI: In a major relief for commuters in the national capital, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) allowed Delhi Metro trains and public transport buses to operate with 100% seating capacity.
Standing passengers, however, will still not be allowed in either Metro trains or buses.
The decision was taken in a meeting of DDMA chaired by lieutenant governor Anil Baijal on Tuesday. Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said in a digital press briefing after the meeting that buses of Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and Cluster Scheme and Delhi Metro would run with full seating capacity, but no person would be allowed to enter or travel in the bus or Metro without a mask.
Sisodia said the decision was taken in the meeting keeping in mind that many people would still need to move around despite the restrictions put in place to curb the spread of Covid-19 and while Metro trains and buses were running with 50% seating capacity, long queues were forming outside the Metro stations and crowds could be seen at bus stops. He said the decision to double the seating capacity in both was taken to control the crowd and prevent the Metro stations and bus stops from becoming super spreaders of Covid-19. Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is likely to open more gates again.
The order issued by DDMA stated that the operation of Delhi Metro and intra-state movement of public transport buses would be permitted with 100% seating capacity with no standing passenger. “In the case of buses, boarding shall be allowed only from the rear door while deboarding shall be allowed only from the front door,” it stated.
The authority has stated that the principal secretary (transport), Delhi government and the managing directors of DTC and DMRC shall be responsible for strict compliance of Covid-appropriate behaviour, such as social distancing, wearing of mask, use of hand sanitisers etc, as well as maintaining relevant standard operating protocols issued by the central and Delhi governments.
The transport department, DTC and DMRC have been directed to appoint senior officials as nodal officers for each Metro station, bus depot and interstate bus terminals, who will be responsible for taking all effective measures for enforcing Covid-appropriate behaviour.
Before the order was issued, Delhi Metro and public buses were allowed to operate with 50% its seating capacity and no standing passenger as part of Graded Response Action Plan’s Level 1 or Yellow alert.
An eight-coach Metro can generally carry about 2,400 passengers — approximately 50 seating passengers and 250 standing passengers per coach. With the earlier restrictions of 50% seating and no standing, the same train could accommodate approximately 200 passengers, or less than 10% of a train’s normal carrying capacity.
The latest relaxation will help take the number to 400 passengers per Metro train.
