Mumbai's lifeline Local Trains back on track for COVID-19 emergency workers

Mumbai, June 15: Nearly after two months of lockdown, Mumbai's lifeline "Local Train" resumed their suburban services over mainline and harbor line on Monday only for essential service workers and employees working in the private medical sector. The announcement was made jointly by Central and Western Railway along with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

 

 

 

Western Railway will run 73 pairs of suburban services including eight pairs between Virar and Dahanu Road. Central Railway will run 200 services (100 up and 100 down) 130 services from Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CSMT) to Kasara/Karjat/Kalyan/Thane and 70 services from CSMT to Panvel, a joint media release by the Western Railway and Central Railway said. The trains will run from 5:30 am to 11:30 pm with an interval of 15 minutes.

 

 

In view of the social distancing guidelines, only 700 people will be allowed to board a train with a seating capacity to accommodate about 1,200 persons. Approximately 1.25 lakh essential staff which includes 50 thousand on Western Railway, as identified by the state government, are expected to travel by these trains. These special suburban services will not be for general passengers/public and will be strictly for essential staff only.

 

Essential employees will have to undergo a two-level check of railway tickets at stations. The railway stations will have only one entry and exit point that will be manned by Railway Protection Force (RPF), Government Railway Police (GRP), and railway ticketing staff. The first check will be conducted by railway personnel before entering the station and the second will be done through QR code scanning. The e-pass is likely to have a QR code that will be scanned at the entry point.

 

Traveling authority will be applicable as per normal procedure over Western Railway and Central Railway for season tickets etc and certain booking windows will be opened for the same, on which respective staff will be facilitated on showing their government ID cards.

 

A "NO HAWKER and NO PARKING ZONE" zone will be strictly imposed in the station and around a 150-meter radius. Approach roads to stations shall be ensured to enable smooth passage of identified passengers and prevent any mass gathering of the public at station premises by respective Municipal Corporations in their respective areas.

 

Ambulances will be kept at each station along with the medical staff to deal with the emergency arises during the travel of commuters by respective Municipal Corporations. The RPF, GRP, State Police will be deployed at various stations.