As part of the ‘Mission Begin Again’, the government of Maharashtra had permitted the resumption of metro services in a graded manner from October 15. Responding to the announcement of the government, the Mumbai Metro has confirmed that it will restart services from October 19. The Mumbai Metro has also thanked the state government for the permission and mentioned about initiating ‘safety inspections and trial runs’. Kolkata Metro Railway had resumed its operations from September 14. Passengers travelling in Kolkata metro need to book their slots and get their QR-coded e-passes from ‘Pathadisha’ app. They need to pay for their tickets using metro cards. Now, the metro authorities have informed that senior citizens can travel throughout the day using their identity cards, without the requirement of any e-passes. Earlier, senior citizens were allowed to avail metro services only during non-peak hours between 11:30 AM and 4:30 PM.
Mumbai Metro To Start Operations From October 19 As Part Of ‘Mission Begin Again’
Following the lockdown relaxations declared by Maharashtra government, the Mumbai Metro has announced that it will resume services from October 19. Taking to micro-blogging site Twitter, Mumbai Metro has stated, “@MumMetro is thankful to Government of Maharashtra for allowing metro operations. We have already initiated safety inspections and trial runs, and are set to restart passenger operations from Monday, 19th October 2020, 8:30 AM. #MissionBeginAgain.”
Metro operations had remained suspended in Maharashtra since March 25, in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Mumbaikars can also view COVID-19 containment zones in the city on Google Maps.
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Senior Citizens Can Now Travel Via Kolkata Metro Throughout The Day, Without E-Passes
For travelling via Kolkata metro, travellers need to download Pathadisha, the free utility app of the Transport Department of the government of West Bengal. Through the app, they need to book their slots for commuting and generate an e-pass. The e-pass has to be shown at the entry for availing the metro services. All payments have to be made using metro cards. Now the Kolkata Metro has exempted the senior citizens from downloading the e-passes from the Pathadisha app. They can travel via metro throughout the day simply with their identity cards. Earlier, senior citizens were allowed to avail metro services only during non-peak hours between 11:30 AM and 4:30 PM.
“The Kolkata Metro authorities have been allowing entry only when we are showing the QR codes generated from the Pathadisha app for entry. Then we are swiping in using our metro cards. If there is no balance in the card, we can get them recharged in the station. There are seat markings inside the trains and people are seating adhering to those markings.”, said Sanghamitra Biswas, a young resident of South Kolkata.
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If you’re planning to travel by metro anytime soon, ensure to read all the safety guidelines before stepping out. Wear your face mask and carry a hand sanitiser. And most importantly, follow social distancing. Meanwhile, AI-Driven orange robots cleaned up metro stations in Dubai: