Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) is setting up cash boxes and contact-less ticket machines at each station to promote cashless transactions, preventing the spread of Covid-19.
The cash boxes are aimed at checking the spread of virus through currency notes. The new system will enable commuters who don’t have Kochi1 cards to purchase tickets without touching anything other than the ticket.
Metro authorities will encourage passengers to use Kochi1 card instead of cash and put in place strict measures to enforce social distancing of passengers. The Metro officials at ticket counters and passenger information counters will communicate to passengers only through mics and speakers.
All the staff dealing with cash will wear hand gloves. The metro officials will also encourage passengers to use hand sanitizer at entry points of stations. Foot-operated sanitizer dispensers will be kept at all entry points of stations.
Social distancing of passengers at stations will be monitored by station controllers and security personnel through CCTVs. Commuters will be screened for body temperature with an infrared thermometer by security staff.
In addition, thermal cameras will be placed at stations having a high footfall. All public contact points like automatic fare collection gates, ticket counters, handrails of staircases and escalators, lift buttons and platform chairs will be cleaned with disinfectant every four hours.
The above measures are being implemented in anticipation of a possible Nod from Center to Resume Operations from September 1st, 2020.