The Delhi Metro and DTC buses will run today at full seating capacity in the national capital, as per the Delhi Disaster Management Authority’s (DDMA) latest order on Saturday.
Till now, operations were allowed with 50 per cent capacity in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, with the fall in the number of cases, the restrictions have been eased. Officials said on Saturday that even as Delhi Metro has been allowed to run at 100 per cent capacity, no standing passenger will be allowed.
DMRC Executive Director, Corporate Communications Anuj Dayal told The Daily Guardian that in view of the revised guidelines issued by the government on Saturday, wherein, travel in the Delhi Metro has been permitted from existing 50% of its seating capacity to 100% with ‘no standing’ travel from today.
DMRC also reiterated that despite being permitted to carry restrictions on numbers of passengers, it is still running maximum trains performing over 5100 trips with highest frequency daily as was available during pre-Covid times when over 60 lakh passenger journeys were performed daily, contrary to the general belief that DMRC at present is running its services with reduced trains/trips/frequency due to travel restrictions.
Also, the guidelines pronounced by the authorities are binding on the Delhi Metro. DMRC once again appeals to the public to travel by the Metro only when it is absolutely necessary and observe all Covid-19 related travel protocols in place for their own and everyone’s safety in this fight against pandemic, Dayal added.
Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gehlot told The Daily Guardian that 100% seating capacity is allowed whether it is DTC bus or cluster or metro. Everyone has been allowed to sit on the basis of seating capacities; this exemption should not be taken to mean that people will be able to stand in buses or metro because we also have to take care of the Covid-19 protocol, he said. It’s mandatory for everyone to wear a mask, and if negligence is found in metro or buses then he will not be spared and action will be taken against him, the minister added.