Number of Kolkata Metro commuters reduces amid Coronavirus scare

According to reports, Kolkata Metro counted 532,000 commuters on the first day of the week where city's one of the fastest and most comfortable transport services, metro rail, daily ferries 700,000 to 750,000 passengers on an average.

"In the north-south section of Kolkata Metro, the number of passengers on Monday decreased by 24 percent," a senior metro railway official told IBNS.

"We assume this reduction in the number of metro commuters happened after many people have decided to stay inside their homes.The state government has shut down all educational institutes and several companies have directed their employees to work from home as a precautionary measure to avoid Covid-19 infection," the official said.

Kolkata Metro authorities, however, said that it had taken all precautionary steps against the spread of Coronavirus.

"Every night, all the metro rakes of north-south and east-west sections are being sanitized properly and thoroughly at our carsheds while all metro stations, token-gates and ticket counters are being cleaned using sanitizers," a metro official said.

"Besides promoting campaigns to combat Covid-19 at all stations and inside trains, our ticketing staff have been asked to wear sanitized gloves and face masks to avoid contacts with infection," he added.

The Coroanvirus outbreak which is believed have originated from China has now spread across different countries across the globe.

In India, three deaths have been reported so far. 126 people are infected by it.