Kolkata, Sep 9 (IANS): Kolkata Metro Rail authorities on Wednesday released the guidelines for running the city's underground commuting lifeline in the new normal phase.

The metro rail services are likely to resume from September 14 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, expect on Sundays.

"We are not confirming now that the service will resume from September 14. But there is a possibility. Metro service will run on September 13 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), and that is confirmed," Kolkata Metro Rail spokesperson told IANS.

According to the new guidelines, e-pass will be made available on the Metro Rail's official website or on the Pathadisha app, which needs to be booked by the passenger 12 hours prior to the journey.

The last train will start at 7 p.m. from both the end stations. If any station falls under the Covid-19 containment zone, it will remain closed.

The new guidelines also said that trains will stop for 30 seconds now at every station, instead of 20 seconds earlier. There will be seats with cross marks where passengers will not be allowed to sit. Trains will run after thorough sanitisation of every rake.

Officials of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and the state police will jointly screen all the passengers with valid e-passes before entering the station premises.

Only Metro Rail officials will be able to enter the stations showing their identity cards and then they can collect necessary passes. Special passes will be issued for employees of contract agencies who work for the Kolkata Metro.

According to sources, every passenger will have to wear masks and undergo thermal screening before entering the station. Only three persons will be allowed to use the elevator at a time. No passenger will be allowed to commute by Metro if he or she is having cough or fever.