Delhi Metro has now been allowed to re-open in a phased manner. Metro rail services, suspended in late March as part of a strict national lockdown, can resume from September 1 under Unlock 4, although the state governments are allowed to take a final call. COVID-safe protocols include longer stoppage timings to prevent rushed boarding, contactless ticketing, spaced out seating, AC temperature controls and strict sanitation drives. The formal Unlock 4 guidelines for resumption of Metro services are yet to be released.
While the fear and apprehension associated with an air-conditioned mass transit system is legitimate, experts have long pointed out that public transport is not really responsible for any major spread.
There is a growing body of fresh research that delinks public transport riders with a high infection risk. Researchers cite cases of countries like Hong Kong which is heavily dependent on mass transit, but recorded far fewer COVID-19 cases than more sparsely populated cities. Japan is another example where no clusters were found in its densely packed commuter trains; most came from gyms, bars, live music venues and karaoke rooms. Many authors have gone on to dismiss attempts to attribute virus spread to New York city subway, pointing out how Manhattan had the lowest incidence of COVID-19 cases but the highest density of subway lines.
The Atlantic wrote an essay months ago titled, 'Fear of Public Transport Got Ahead of the Evidence'.
"Nowhere in the world has metro services been stopped completely. Right from China to New York to London which witnessed larger outbreaks, the authorities stressed on sanitization of metro coaches, mandates on wearing masks, maintaining hygiene and social distancing and regular cleaning of air conditioning ventilation. Public transport, nowhere in the world, has actually been found to be a cluster of an outbreak," says Rupa Nandy, head, International Association of Public Transport (UITP) in New Delhi.
Nandy points to a recent survey conducted by the national public health agency in France. "Sante Publique France says that only one per cent of clusters are linked to transport. Twenty-four per cent of COVID-19 cases came from workplaces, 16 per cent from health care venues, 14 per cent from family gatherings, nine per cent from public events, and eight per cent from social accommodation," she says.
Nandy says it's easier to implement COVID-safe protocols in Metros than keeping it shut fearing transmission. "Imagine a scenario where we do not have any Metro in place, bus services are still scanty and people are going to offices. This is the case in India now. Then how do we have so many new infections added up everyday? If closing public transport has actually had an effect, where is the proof?” she asks.
The Scientific American has even pointed out environmental and health benefits of restarting public transport. "In addition to planet-warming pollution (public transportation produces far less greenhouse gas emissions per mile than cars), the transit also produces fewer criteria air pollutants such as particulate matter and nitrogen oxide," writes the SA in a story dated July 28.
The economic argument for those in need of these services cannot be overlooked anymore, as pointed by a July 23 World Bank article. "The transport sector will have a critical part in getting economies moving again while curbing the spread of COVID-19... Even during a pandemic, public transport remains the backbone of sustainable mobility and essential to economic recovery."
Since its closure due to COVID-19, the Delhi Metro has suffered a loss of nearly Rs 1,300 crore according to news reports. Average daily ridership of the DMRC was over 26 lakh in pre-COVID days.
