NEW DELHI (Metro Rail News): The Ministry of Home Affairs has taken a decision to continue unlocking the economy amid the deteriorating conditions of Coronavirus spread. Although the cases continue to spike, the government is in no mood to rethink on its decisions and in the same move, it has issued Unlock 4.0 guidelines.
Although the schools and colleges along with all other educational activities have been kept under lockdown till 30th September, the government has decided to open up the Metro. The move will help Delhi Metro, Noida Metro, Lucknow Metro, Kolkata, Bangalore and Kochi metros to resume their operation. However, there are speculations whether the metro services are going to resume in Mumbai and Nagpur. According to the sources familiar with the matter in Maharashtra, the state government may even not allow the services.
“Metro rail will be allowed to operate with effect from 7th September 2020 in a graded manner, by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MOHUA)/ Ministry of Railways (MOR), in consultation with MHA. In this regard, Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) will be issued by MOHUA”, Said the statement released by MHA in evening.
The things may vary from state to state as the state governments will have enough powers to impose localised lockdowns. The move is, however, being welcomed by the Metro Corporations across the nation. The most challenging thing will be the execution of the phase-wise reopening of metro networks.
“As per the latest guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs under Unlock-4, the Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC) will be resuming its services on the Aqua Line for the public from 7th September 2020 onwards in a calibrated manner. Further details on the Metro functioning and its usage by the general public will be shared once the detailed SOP on Metros is issued by the Ministery of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and the Uttar Pradesh Government in the next few days” said Ritu Maheshwari, Managing Director of Noida Metro Rail Corporation.
“Metro Rail will be allowed to operate in a graded manner from 7 September 2020 by @MoHUA_India and @RailMinIndia, in consultation with Ministry of Home Affairs. SOP will soon be issued in this regard”, said MoHUA in a tweet.
“As per the latest guidelines, Delhi Metro will be resuming its services for the public from 7 September 2020 onwards in a calibrated manner. Details on the Metro functioning & its usage will be shared once the detailed SOP on Metros is issued by MoHUA”, said DMRC in a statement.
“As part of the nationwide Unlock 4.0, Kochi Metro services to resume operations from 7th September 2020”, said Kochi Metro in Tweet.
Amid the rising number of cases in national capital, it can be a risky game for DMRC as well. The things now depend upon execution of the plans.
