DELHI METRO RESTARTS

yellow line, connecting Samaypur Badli and Huda City Centre in Gurugram, was the first to reopen as per 'Unlock 4' guidelines.

Considered as a 'lifeline' for Delhiities, the Delhi Metro had its services suspended on March 22 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

For better crowd management, the trains are being operated in batches of four hours each from 7.00-11.00 am in the morning and 4.00-8.00 pm in the evening.

To ensure minimum physical contact, tokens are not being issued at stations. A commuter has to get a smart card and recharge which has to be done digitally, thus putting a question on the accessibility of metros to people from all classes. 

Though prohibited in pre-covid time as well, commuters used to find a way to eat their breakfast/lunch inside the metro coach to make full use of their travel time. But now rules have become strict. Eating and drinking remain prohibited at all cost.

Inside the coach, commuters have to sit on alternate seats and maintain a prescribed distance. Masks have to be kept on at all times during the travel.

While Day 1 of metro resumption looked smooth, barring few technical glitches reported from a few stations, the real test lies when all lines start on September 12 with a rider of 'travel only if needed.'