Delhi Metro and DTC Busses can now run at full seating capacity capacity

It is be relief for daily passengers of Delhi Metro and DTC busses as DDMA has provided much needed relaxation.

The Delhi Disaster Management Authority on Saturday allowed further relaxation in the national Capital and said from July 26 Delhi Metro will run at full capacity and cinema halls and theatres in the city will be allowed to reopen at half of their capacity.

Bars will also be allowed to reopen with 50 per cent of the seating capacity from 12 noon to 10pm.

All shops will be permitted to function on all days of the week without any distinction of essential and non-essential goods and services between 10am and 8pm.

What is permitted

• All standalone shops and colony shops in residential complexes
• All markets, markets complexes and malls between 10 am to 8 pm
• Restaurants are allowed upto 50% of the seating capacity from 8 am to 10 pm
• Bars are allowed upto 50% of the seating capacity from 12 noon to 10 pm
• Cinemas/theatres/multiplexes are allowed upto 50% of the seating capacity
• Auditoriums/assembly halls are allowed upto 50% of the seating capacity
• Business to Business exhibitions will be allowed only for business visitors
• Delhi Metro shall be allowed with 100% seating capacity. No standing passengers shall be allowed
• Buses will be allowed with 100% seating capacity
• Public transports such as autos and e-rickshaws (upto 2 passengers)/taxi, cabs, gramin sewa, phat-phat sewa (upto 2 passengers), maxi cab (upto 5 passengers), RTV (upto 11 passengers) are allowed.
• Marriage related gatherings shall be permitted with a ceiling of 100 persons

What remains shut

• All schools, colleges, educational/coaching institutes will remain closed. Online/distance learning shall continue to be permitted and should be encouraged
• All social, political, sports, entertainment, cultural, religious, festival related gatherings and congregations

Delhi Metro services were shut in April, when infection had started rising in the national capital. In June, Metro services were allowed but with just 50% of its capacity.

Only half of Delhi Metro’s available trains were in service at a frequency of five to fifteen minutes when the operations started. The number of trains were inducted in full strength in a graded manner.

In order to ensure social distancing and compliance to 50% seating inside trains, the public was advised to take extra time for their daily commute and exhibit Covid appropriate behaviour outside the stations also while waiting for their turn to enter the station. Entry at stations was regulated through identified gates as was the practice earlier.

However, due to limited capacity, long cues were seen outside many stations in city. In a statement, the DMRC chief explained the reason behind the long cues and said that queues had been observed outside the metro stations as the entry to the station was regulated due to restrictions on number of passengers to be allowed inside the train.