Public buses and metro trains in the national capital will run at their current limited capacities for at least two more weeks with the Delhi Disaster Management Authority on Monday deciding to maintain the status quo on the number of passengers, according to sources.
The decision was taken as states like Maharashtra, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Punjab are witnessing a surge in new COVID-19, according to sources.
They said, “Delhi Metro trains and public buses will run at previously fixed limited capacities for now. It is vigilant wait and watches for another two weeks.”
Last week a proposal was being sent by the Delhi transport department to the DDMA to allow people to travel standing up in public buses.
On Monday, Lt Governor Anil Baijal chaired a meeting of the DDMA, which was attended by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, his deputy Manish Sisodia, Chief Secretary Vijay Dev and other officers.
In the national capital, DTC and cluster buses are currently plying with full seating capacity, and even as the standing of passengers during travel is not allowed at present.
In metro trains, the commuters can sit on alternate seats or leaving a seat between them vacant. Standing riders also have to maintain a predetermined distance between them, therefore further reducing the carrying capacity of a coach.
On Sunday Delhi recorded 145 fresh COVID-19 cases with two new fatalities, as the positivity rate dipped marginally to 0.23 per cent.
In the national capital, the new fatalities pushed the death toll from the pandemic to 10,900. On Saturday was 0.24 per cent the COVID-19 positivity rate in Delhi.
Meanwhile, Covid-19 cases has crossed 11 million in India, and 1,56,385 people have lost their life due to Covid-19 in the country, according to the Union Health Ministry.
According to the WHO, India is the second worst-affected country after the United States, which has recorded nearly 28 million Covid-19 cases and 491,894 deaths (till February 22).