DELHI (Metro Rail News): Tokens for travelling in metro trains may not be existing anymore as Centre plans to execute a contactless ticketing system using only metro cards once limitations on public transport are lifted.
The central govt is preparing a slew of steps to introduce social distancing as metro travel and to secure minimising the risk of spreading COVID-19 by maintaining space between 2 passengers, zone-wise queueing, screening & controlling crowds at the stations.
These proposals are part of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the resumption of metro train services that are being drafted by the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs. “We are planning to support the use of metro cards only, make ticketing as contactless as possible and avoid lines at the counter,” a senior official told.
In the wake of coronavirus crisis, the Centre has commanded a lockdown, stopping all public transport till 3rd May. Metros, trains & flights, have been delayed since March 25.
The official said that on Tuesday a review meeting was directed by the minister to start planning on how to operate metro services once restrictions are lifted. Please note, services would only resume once the order comes from the home ministry. We have to formulate a plan for whenever operations resume.
The official further added that we would have to plan our trains accordingly and would also have to find out ways of keeping social distancing in the train. We are watching what other countries that have continued services are doing & should be able to factor all that in. Our guidelines would be ready this week.
