Hyderabad Metro To Be Opened In Phased Manner

The Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) authorities today issued broad guidelines and a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for resumption of metro services, shut down in March due to the coronavirus.

The metro operations will be resumed in a phased manner.

In Phase-I, to start from September 7, Corridor 1 (Miyapur to L B Nagar) will be made operational. The revenue services will be from 7 am to 12 pm and 4 pm to 9 pm.

In Phase-II, to start from September 8, Corridor 3 (Nagole to Raidurg) will also be made operational. The revenue services will again be from 7 am to 12 pm and 4 pm to 9 pm.

In Phase-III, to start from September 9, all the three corridors (C1, C2 & C3) will be made operational. The revenue services will be from 7 am to 9 pm.

The frequency of the trains will be around 5 min, and will be increased or decreased based on passenger traffic and to avoid crowding.

The following stations in containment zones will be closed: Gandhi Hospital, Bharat Nagar, Moosapet, Musheerabad and Yusufguda.

In order to ensure social distancing, suitable markings at stations and inside trains are being made for passengers to stand. Alternate seats will be marked x inside the train, and kept vacant.

Social distancing will be monitored through CCTV. The wearing of face masks is mandatory for all passengers and staff. Metro Rail will make arrangements for the supply of masks on payment basis to people arriving without masks.

Penalties will be imposed for any violations.

There will be thermal screening at the entry points of the stations, and only asymptomatic persons will be allowed to travel. Symptomatic persons will be advised to go to a nearby Covid care centre or hospital for testing and medical attention. Sanitizers will be kept at the entry points of the stations.

The stations will be disinfected thoroughly during the non-revenue hours in the night. All human contact areas - e. g. lift buttons, escalator hand rails and customer handling points - will be disinfected frequently at stations. The trains themselves will also be cleaned and disinfected thoroughly during non-revenue hours at depots.