view of the serious pollution situation in Delhi, on the request of the Delhi Government, DDMA has also given permission to travel standing in buses and metro. In every coach of the metro, 30 people have been allowed to travel standing.
In this sense, about 150 to 250 people will be able to travel standing in each train. At present, traveling in the metro is allowed only by sitting on all seats. However, despite this, a large number of people have already been traveling standing in trains. In such a situation, now after getting the formal approval, the crowd in the trains is likely to increase further. In view of this, DMRC has also started opening the closed entry-exit gates of metro stations.
Crowd will increase during peak hours
According to DMRC sources, the process of opening additional gates was started at the time of the festive season, because the rush in the metro had started increasing at that time, but now there is a formal approval to travel standing. Due to this, the number of passengers in trains is likely to increase further during peak hours. In view of this, now additional entry gates will be opened at those stations where till now the gates were closed. Sources said that more than 90 percent of the gates have already been opened. The remaining 10 percent gates will also be opened gradually.
Permission to stand only 30 people in a coach
However, it will also not be easy for DMRC to ensure that only 30 people stand in each coach of trains, as once entered into the system, where will people stand on the platform and how many people will enter which coach. It is almost impossible to control, or how many people have already come standing in a coach and where passengers have disembarked from the coach.
No relaxation in following covid protocol
In such a situation, it is believed that in the coming days, in the morning and evening, metro trains can be seen as packed as before. However, DMRC officials have clarified that no relaxation has been given in following the Covid protocol and hence the stations will be kept under full vigil as before.
