All social, political, sports, entertainment, cultural, religious, festival-related gatherings and congregations are still prohibited in Delhi.

Recently, the Delhi metro has also been allowed to operate with a 100 per cent seating capacity. The new guidelines will be effective from 5 am July 26.

The city had witnessed an unprecedented surge of cases and deaths during the second wave of coronavirus in April and May. But now as the situation seems to have been improving over the past few weeks, the Arvind Kejriwal-led government is reopening Delhi in a phased manner.

 

Cinemas, theatres, multiplexes, and spas in Delhi will reopen from Monday. The Delhi Metro and public buses will be permitted to operate with 100 per cent seating capacity, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), said in an order on Saturday.

The maximum number of guests at marriages and funerals has also been raised from 50 to 100. All auditoriums, assembly halls have also been permitted to reopen from Monday at 50 per cent seating capacity.

This essentially leaves only schools, colleges, educational and coaching institutes under the category of prohibited activities in Delhi.

All social, political, sports, entertainment, cultural, religious, and festival-related gatherings remain prohibited.

Though, the DDMA has made an exception for farmers protesting against the three agricultural laws at Jantar Mantar till the end of the Monsoon session of the Parliament.

The decision to allow Metro services at 100 per cent seating capacity will come as a relief to lakhs of commuters who depend on the underground transport system for commuting daily.

Due to the maximum number of seating at 50 per cent, the metro has been regulating the entry of commuters inside stations by keeping only one gate open, leading to long queues and a waiting time of up to 80 minutes in case of stations such as Rajiv Chowk and Huda City Centre.

Moreover, the DDMA order states that standing passengers will not be allowed. In the case of cinemas, theatres, and multiplexes, the management will have to stick to the seating cap at 50 per cent.