Key Points:
- Suburban Trains For All Likely to resume from Early January: says Maharashtra Minister Vijay Wadettiwar.
- Maharashtra Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Vijay Wadettiwar said the state government’s correspondence with the Railway ministry in this regard was in final stages.
State relief and rehabilitation minister Vijay Wadettiwar on Tuesday said the government is considering allowing all to board local trains in Mumbai from January 1, 2021.
Wadettiwar said this move may be taken considering decreasing Covid-19 cases. “There was another wave that hit in Delhi. Cases were on the rise there due to the rush in trains and the cold weather. Cases in Mumbai and Maharashtra are under control, but still we have to take more care before allowing all to board locals.” Currently, only by select categories of commiters can take suburban trains.
At present, only select categories of people, including staff of essential services and women, are allowed to board suburban trains.
The suburban network, called Mumbai’s lifeline, used to ferry over 70 lakh commuters daily before the coronavirus outbreak.
The vast rail network was closed in March-end after the coronavirus-induced lockdown was announced and was gradually opened for railway and essential services staffers.
