In light of the precipitously spreading pandemic caused due to the coronavirus, the Maharashtra government has ordained that the Mumbai local commuter train services will be effectively shut down from the midnight of Sunday, March 22 to March 31. Easily one of the world’s largest suburban commuter services, spread over 390 kilometres, the suburban railway operates 2,342 train services and carries more than 7.5 million commuters daily.
Post March 22, only government personnel engaged in the provision of essential services would be allowed to travel by local trains in Mumbai, a release by the Konkan divisional commissioner said. These government employees will also only be allowed upon having their identity cards checked.
Under the Epidemic Disease Act, 1897 the state government has empowered all municipal commissioners, divisional commissioners, and collectors to take action to reduce crowding. Konkan Divisional Commissioner Shivaji Daund said that upon non-compliance, IPC section 188 and even section 144 can be initiated against them.
Apart from the government personnel, only those who require urgent medical aid would be allowed to travel post verification. Those travelling by local train to reach railway terminus for boarding a long-distance train will also be allowed upon inspection of their journey tickets. These efforts are being made to curtail this pandemic that can only possibly be curtailed through social distancing.
TOI reports, “Konkan Divisional Commissioner Shivaji Daund said that there will be two teams and in each team, one from GRP, RPF, a health official and two from the revenue department. These fleets will be stationed at the northbound and southbound entry points of the railway stations.
Beginning March 20, Friday, both the Central Railway and Western Railway had decided to suspend the services of air-conditioned local trains in Mumbai in efforts to contain the outbreak. The Economic Times reports, “A WR spokesperson said that AC locals would be cancelled till further notice.”
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