Over 15,000 commuters traveled on the Delhi Metro on Monday, the day it resumed services after a hiatus of five months, PTI reported. The Delhi Metro resumed services on its Yellow Line with curtailed operations and a range of safety measures in place, in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

On the first day, most stations had a deserted look, including the key hub stations, Rajiv Chowk. 

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation said 15,500 people availed the Metro service till 8.30 pm on Monday. On regular days, the average daily ridership of the Delhi Metro is over 26 lakh.

Station employees frequently sanitised areas of the metro station and ensured social distancing norms, even as several commuters said the closure of most entry-exit gates caused delay and inconvenience.

There was no violation of COVID-19 guidelines at metro stations on Monday.

As a part of curtailed operations, trains plied in batches of four-hour each from 7-11 am in the morning and 4-8 pm in the evening. The first trains left from Samaypur Badli station to HUDA City Centre station and simultaneously from HUDA City Centre to Samaypur Badli at 7:00 am, PTI quoted a senior official of DMRC as saying. 

As the day began, some riders wearing protective masks were seen entering the premises of key stations like Kashmere Gate and Hauz Khas. On the station premises, passengers were permitted to enter the concourse only after temperature checks with thermal guns and sanitisation of hands.

Hundreds of Delhi Metro ground staff and Central Industrial Security Force personnel wore face shields, masks and gloves as preventive measures against the pathogen.

Inside coaches, commuters sat on alternate seats and maintained prescribed distance even while standing. Stickers were also put up on alternate seats and on platforms so that riders adhere to social-distancing norms. Special posters were put up inside coaches and on station premises to raise awareness, besides regular announcements on safety norms.

Metro services in the city were closed on March 22 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The disease has infected over 191,000 people in Delhi and killed 4,567 of them.