Metro ops in fin capital to operate at 3rd of pre-COVID passenger capacity, services halved

Metro train services will be only half of pre-COVID levels and will operate at a third of passenger capacity once services restart next week, a top official said on Saturday. Time duration of operations for single 11-km line between Ghatkopar to Versova has also been curtailed to 12 hours starting from 0830 hrs daily, Mumbai Metro One's chief executive Abhau Kumar Mishra told reporters while showing revamped set up.

He said cut in services, passengers and operational timing is to ensure passenger safety through proper social distancing which needs to be followed. Only 200 services of trains will run with services in eir direction in up to 8 minutes as against 5 minutes and 400 services earlier. As against 1,350 people per service earlier, w train will carry only 360 people.

It can be ted that earlier this week, Maharashtra government h allowed Metro services in financial capital to resume from October 15, but company decided to start it from Monday after finishing all safety runs. Temperatures inside coaches will be maintained between 25-27 degree Celsius and passengers are encourd to use digital tickets, smart cards or QR code-based tickets, an official statement said, ding plastic token will be issued.

authorities will be carrying out regular disinfection of all stations and also coaches, it said. Over 300 workers have worked through lockdown period for upkeep of trains and station infrastructure, Mishra said, ding 32 of m h turned positive for COVID-19 of which four continue to be infected.  

(Im Credits: PTI)