Maha Metro to resume operations from today
| Date :16-Oct-2020 |
Staff Reporter :
Maha Metro is all geared up for resuming its services in city from Friday in the post-COVID phase. It has taken several steps and precautions to ensure safety of commuters and its own staff. Further, it has offered 50 per cent discount in fares to attract the commuters. Ahead of resuming the services, Maha Metro conducted trial run of the metro train in Sitabuldi stretch on Thursday. Also, it deployed staff to carry out disinfection of train coaches as well as common areas at metro stations. Maha Metro has offered 50 per cent discount in fares to attract the commuters. As per the official statement, the fare for 0-6 km will be slashed from Rs 10/- to Rs 5/-. The fare for 6-12 km will be Rs 10/- instead of Rs 20/-, and fare for travel beyond 12 km will be Rs 20/- instead of Rs 30/-.
As per the Unlock guidelines, metro train services are to start in a graded manner. Hence, Maha Metro has decided to start services initially in Reach-III (Aqua Line) between Lokmanya Nagar and Sitabuldi Inter-change stations. Subsequently, services on Orange Line will be started. Metro train services will be operational from 8 am to 8 pm. As part of special measures, only the passengers wearing face-masks will be permitted to enter metro stations and travel in trains.
At every station, only one entrance shall be opened. All passengers entering station will be screened with thermal gun. In case of any abnormality, Station Controller shall inform health services about the same. Passengers with temperature more than 38 degrees Celsius will not be allowed to travel. Also, the passengers showing symptoms like sneezing, coughing, and difficulty in breathing will not be permitted to travel. Passengers will have to wash hands before entering metro station premises, and hand sanitisers will be provided to them. Passengers shall be permitted to board train only after de-boarding of passengers at all stations. Maha Metro stated that passengers were expected to not touch switches of lift and other electrical appliances. Also, passengers should avoid touching side-bars of escalators too. Considering the COVID-19 situation, Queue Managers and spaces have been marked for maintaining social distancing at areas like ticket counter, screening points, boarding/deboarding points at the platform.
Maha Metro has decided to promote digital payment including through Maha Metro Mobile App or Maha Card for journey fare, to minimise physical contact. E-ticket can be scanned at the gate. Maha Metro will separately store the cash collected, and sanitise it using ultra-violet box. Incoming and outgoing cash will be stored separately to avoid mixing of the same. Security staff shall ensure social distancing requirements at station, and guide the passengers for entering and passing through the station, exit etc. Regular announcements about COVID-19 awareness will be made on public address systems at stations and trains. Maha Metro staff will wear face-masks, hand-gloves, and use hand sanitisers. Entrance gates of stations, crew control room, baby care room, station control room etc shall be cleaned at regular intervals.