NEW DELHI: Only half of Delhi Metro's available trains will be in service at a frequency of five to fifteen minutes on Monday when the rapid transport system is set to resume operation with 50 per cent seating capacity in view of improving COVID-19 situation.
The number of trains in service will be increased in a graded manner, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said on Saturday.
Apart from allowing metro trains to operate with half its capacity, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday announced various relaxations, including permitting shops in markets and malls to reopen on an odd-even basis from June 7.
He said the COVID-19 situation has been gradually improving, in view of which the process of unlocking was started last week.
Delhi recorded 414 new cases of COVID-19, the lowest in over two-and-a-half months, and 60 fatalities on Saturday.
The positivity rate has dipped to 0.53 per cent, according to health department data.
The DMRC, in a statement, said in view of the revised guidelines issued on Saturday by the Delhi government, metro services will resume for the public from June 7 with 50 per seating capacity only.
"On Monday, only half of the available trains will be inducted into service with a frequency ranging from approximately five to 15 minutes on different lines.
The number of trains will be inducted in full strength in a graded manner by Wednesday and thereafter services will be available as per normal frequency as before the lockdown," it said.
People are advised to cooperate with the metro authorities in ensuring compliance to Covid-appropriate behaviour throughout their travel, officials said.
"In order to ensure social distancing and compliance to 50 per cent seating inside trains, people are also 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," the DMRC said.
Entry at stations will continue to be regulated through identified gates as was the practice earlier.
The DMRC will be writing to appropriate authorities for maintenance of law and order outside metro stations as the services resume from Monday, officials said.
The Covid-induced lockdown in Delhi was imposed on April 19 and successively extended by the city government.
Initially, metro services were partial, catering only to people engaged in essential services.
However, from May 10, the service was suspended in view of rising cases amid a second wave of the COVID-19 infection.