Metro rail allowed to resume from September 7: Unlock 4 guidelines

The Centre has allowed resumption of metro rail services in a graded manner across India, as part of the relaxations to be provided in the Unlock 4 phase of the lockdown.

The ministry of home affairs announced several other relaxations in its latest guidelines, issued on Saturday (August 29), for opening up more activities outside the containment zones. Unlock 4 will come into effect from September 1 and remain in force till September 30.

Here’s a glance at the latest guidelines issued by the government:

1. Metro rail will be allowed to operate with effect from September 7 in a graded manner, by the ministry of housing and urban affairs and railways ministry in consultation with the Ministry of home affairs.
2. Social/academic/sports/entertainment/cultural/religious/political functions and other congregations will be permitted with a ceiling of 100 persons, from September 21.
3. There shall be no restriction on the inter-state and intra-state movement of persons and goods. For such movements, no separate permission/approval/e-permit will be required.
4. Cinema halls, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres (excluding open-air theatre), and similar places to remain closed. Open-air theatres will be allowed to open from September 21.
5. State and UT governments shall not impose any local lockdown outside the containment zones without prior consultation with the central government.
6. Students of classes 9 to 12 may be permitted to visit their schools, in areas outside the containment zones only, on a voluntary basis, for taking guidance from their teachers. This will be subjected to the written consent of their parents or guardians.
7. States and UTs may permit up to 50% of teaching and non-teaching staff to be called to schools for online teaching or tele-counselling-related work.
8. International air travel, except as permitted by MHA, to remain suspended.

Lockdown shall continue to be implemented strictly in the containment zones till September 30, the government further asserted.

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It also said that the national directives for COVID-19 management shall continue to be followed throughout the country while ensuring social distancing. “Shops need to maintain adequate physical distancing among customers. The ministry of home affairs will monitor the effective implementation of National Directives,” it said.

Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla has written to all chief secretaries of states and UTs to direct authorities for strict compliance of the Unlock 4 guidelines.