Even as the Maharashtra government planned a phase-wise unlocking process in the state, the associations of suburban train commuters on Friday urged the state government to start the operation of local trains for the general public as soon as possible. With the lockdown in the state, the Mumbai local train services were suspended for the general public for the second time on April 15. However, these local train services are operational only for people working in essential services and citizens travelling for vaccination or hospital purpose.
In general, over three million passengers travel by local trains on both the Central and Western Railway on daily basis.
Moreover, the passenger associations also stated that those passengers who are vaccinated should be allowed to commute. Suburban Railway Passenger Association secretary Lata Argade told Hindustan Times that the government has been saying that people who have received even one vaccine dose are less likely to transmit the virus, they should then be allowed to commute.
However, Central Railway chief public relation officer Shivaji Sutar said that the passengers as identified by state government are permitted to travel in suburban local trains and the railway authorities are co-ordinating with state government for any further decision in this regard.
Surjitt sahani
