The local train service in Mumbai which had completely been closed off for nearly two months due to the extended lockdown had resumed operations from June 15. However, the operations have started in the city for the employees involved in the essential services.
Update: Western Railways has clarified that they have not issued a specific list of people that can take these special trains and maintains that people who are engaged in essential services can use the service.
Earlier there was news circulating that railways have said that all the private and government doctors and government teachers have been allowed to travel in these local trains along with the employees involved in the essential services. Also, the employees working in the BMC have also been allowed to travel on the local train.
Apart from the BMC, employees working in Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation, Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation, Palghar Municipal Corporation, Thane Municipal Corporation, Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation and Kalyan Dombivali Municipal Corporation have also been allowed to travel in local trains. At the same time, those working in the Ministry and the Collector's Office are also permitted to traverse in the local. Employees working in Mumbai Police and GRP, as well as employees working in Railways, have also been allowed to travel in the local train. However, the locals are yet to open for the common people who do not work in essential services.
The first train ran on the tracks around dawn on Monday, June 15. Approximately 200 local trains on Central Railway and 120 local trains on Western Railway have resumed operations. In the past, a meeting of railway officials was held to start local trains in Mumbai after which it was decided to resume the Mumbai local in the city. In order to curb the surge in the number of cases of coronavirus, only the people who are engaged in essential services have been permitted to travel in the local trains. As per the joint media released by the Western and Central Railways, 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.