Summary:
In wake of a fresh surge in COVID cases over the last two weeks., the Maharashtra government is considering imposing restrictions again on the local train commuting on suburban trains in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
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In wake of a fresh surge in COVID cases over the last two weeks., the Maharashtra government is considering imposing restrictions again on the local train commuting on suburban trains in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
The decision is likely after a review of the cases in the next few days and the state government may either reduce the allotted time slots for the general public or completely revoke the permission allowing people working in essential services only.
Relief and rehabilitation minister Vijay Wadettiwar said on Friday that the state government was thinking of rescheduling the train timing in the wake of the rising cases.
“We will not completely restrict the general public from commuting on the train, but will reschedule the timings,” he said.
Experts and state officials are of the opinion that suburban train travel is one of the reasons behind the spike in Covid-19 cases in Mumbai and neighbouring areas, in the past few days.
Since the suburban train services were reopened for the general public during non-peak hours on February 1, an average of three million commuters has been travelling by the same.
Crowded trains are being seen as one reason behind the spike.
According to the officials from the state government, the review is expected to be taken next week.
“It is true that the crowding in local trains is one of the reasons for the upsurge in the Covid-19 cases in the MMR.
The number of passengers in all three lines has increased four times after the general public was allowed to travel in local trains from February 1.