Noida Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (NMRC’s) Operations team conducted a detailed inspection of the complete Aqua Line on September 05, 2020 to check the health of the Metro system and to avoid any last-minute glitches in Metro Operations on 7th September 2020. The inspection was carried under the guidance of Shri Ravindra Saxena, Chief Operating Officer (NMRC) and other officers of the Operations, Electrical and Rolling Stock team.
All the systems were thoroughly checked by the officials. All the officials travelled in a Rail Motor Trolley to check the tracks and signalling from the Depot station in Greater Noida to Sector 51 Station in Noida. They stopped at various stations on the way and inspected each and every aspect related to the functioning of the Metro trains and all its related systems.
The inspection was also done to check the preparedness of NMRC for beginning Metro services after the lockdown of almost 5 months and to fill lapses, if any, and to check the aspects related to the implementation of the guidelines adopted by NMRC to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus.
Fine On Spitting And Travelling Without Mask:
To ensure strict compliance of the guidelines which have been issued by NMRC for travelling in the Aqua Line, NMRC will be imposing fines on commuters who are found travelling without masks and spitting inside Metro stations and trains or any other metro premises.
Passengers found spitting inside Metro stations, trains or any other metro premises will have to pay a fine of Rs. 100 at the first time and Rs. 500 for any subsequent occurrence.Passengers found travelling without masks in the Metro trains, stations or any other Metro premises will have to pay a fine of Rs. 500.
Encourage Use of Cashless Ticketing:
NMRC is also spreading the message of using cashless ticketing options among its commuters like use of Smart Card and QR code generated by NMRCs mobile App.
NMRC currently has 3 ticketing options:
- Use of Contactless Smart Card
- Use of QR code generated by NMRCs Mobile App. This QR code can also be scanned without touching the smart phone with the Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) gates
- Use of paper generated QR Code which can be purchased from the Metro stations.
NMRC is encouraging its commuters to use the first two options as much as possible to help in minimising human contact and help in keeping our commuters safe.
NMRC is making necessary preparations at all its stations and inside the trains to ensure that all passengers of the Aqua Line follow the guidelines laid down by the Government for prevention of the Covid-19 infection. The main objective of NMRC is to provide a safe travelling experience for its commuters with all specified safety measures and precautions to safeguard against spread of Covid-19.
The measures being taken by NMRC are enumerated below:
- Operations and Frequency:
- Metro services on Aqua Line will commence from 7th September 2020 (Monday).
- Initially NMRC will run trains with reduced operational timings i.e. 7 AM to 11 AM in the morning and 5 PM to 9 PM in the evening with a frequency of 15 minutes from Monday to Saturday.
- On Sundays the services will start from 8 AM to 11 AM and from 5 PM to 9 PM in the evenings.
- Temperature inside the trains will be maintained in the range of 24-30 degree Celsius.
- As of now, trains will stop at all the stations, However, based on the future notification, stations falling in containment zones will remain closed for commuters. Such changes will be informed to the commuters through public notice, announcement and updating the NMRC website and applications.
- Cleaning and Sanitisation of Trains and Stations:
- Intensive cleaning and sanitization of station areas and the trains as a whole will be carried out daily during night hours.
- Passengers’ contact area such as Call buttons of lifts, AFC gates, Handle belts of Escalators & Staircases, POS machines etc. at Stations will be sanitized at regular intervals.
- Passenger Screening and other Guidelines to be followed at the Stations:
- Only the passengers with face mask will be allowed.
- Every passenger will be screened by Thermal sensors.
- The limiting maximum temperature for travel permission will be 37.7 degree centigrade.
- Passengers having “Aarogya Setu” app with Green status will be allowed.
- Persons entering NMRC premises will have to apply hand sanitizer after screening.
- To ensure adequate Social distance, markings for standing the passengers have been made at 1 metre spacing at frisking zones, TOM counters and Platforms.
- Commuters should avoid touching the AFC Gates while scanning the QR tickets or Smart Cards.
- On escalators, a gap of at least one step should be maintained between two users.
- Generally, all lifts will be closed. However, in case of request for senior citizens & physically challenged passengers, lift will be made available on request.
- Digital payments will be preferred.
- Guidelines for travelling Inside the Trains:
- Passengers shall maintain adequate social distance. For this purpose, suitable markings have been made inside the coaches.
- Crowd inside the train as well as at station/platform will be monitored through CCTV from the Control Rooms. If more crowd is are observed, entry at the station will be restricted.
- Passengers will be advised to refrain from touching any surface inside the
- metro stations or trains.
- Entry/Exit at Stations:
- At the following stations only one gate will be kept open for entry / exit, Sector – 101, Sector- 81, NSEZ, Sector-83, Sector -137, Sector-142,Sector-143, Sector – 144, Sector – 145, Sector – 146, Sector -147, Sector -148, Alpha -1, Delta – 1 and GNIDA Office.
- At following 6 stations, both entrance gates will be kept open for commuters Sector – 51, Sector –50, Sector –76, KP-II, Pari chowk, Depot Station .
- Information to the Public in the form of Signages, Announcements and Digital Displays:
- For information and awareness of the Commuters, provision of suitable signages and announcements have been made available inside the stations and trains.
Source: NMRC-Press Release | Image Credit: NMRC
