Unlock 4.0 guidelines announced: Metro services to resume from 7 Sep; schools, colleges to remain shut till 30 Sep

Social, academic, sports, entertainment, cultural, religious, political functions and other congregations will be permitted from 21 September as part of Unlock 4.0, but with a ceiling of 100 persons The Union Home Ministry on Saturday issued the Unlock 4.o guidelines under which metro trains will be allowed to resume services from 7 September in a graded manner, while political, social and religious congregations of up to 100 people will be permitted from 21 September. Inside metro premises like stations and train coaches, wearing of masks will be mandatory and social distancing norms will be followed as per government guidelines, and people not wearing masks will not be allowed to enter metro premises, officials said. From new smart cards with auto top-up facility to stickers on social distancing norms pasted on seats and platform floors, Delhi Metro is all set to handle commuters in adherence to COVID-19 safety guidelines, whenever the services are ordered to be resumed, officials had earlier said. Encouraging commuters to download the Aarogya Setu mobile app and intensifying electronic and manual surveillance on all activities in metro premises have also been suggested by the force, besides several measures for maintaining social distancing.