Maharashtra government’s new travel rules kicked in on November 25, and soon after thousands of people were seen waiting in the long queues at railway stations, state borders and airports in Mumbai for the mandatory coronavirus screening.
On the first day, a total of 9,779 passengers were screened at six outstation railway stations within the BMC limits. Of which, 10 passengers were tested positive.
Many passengers arriving from Delhi, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Goa were seen waiting for their turn to undergo a COVID-19 test at Dadar, Mumbai Central, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, Bandra and Borivali. All the passengers who arrived from the four states without the RT-PCR negative test reports were screened using thermal scanners and those showing symptoms were tested using rapid antigen kits.
According to the information received from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), 1,079 railway passengers were tested at the CSMT, while the test of 3,400 passengers was conducted at Mumbai Central. At Dadar, out of 2,000 passengers, only one passenger’s test result turned out to be positive.
Whereas, 315 passengers were tested at Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, of which three passengers were positive. A total of 2,047 passengers were tested at Bandra Terminus, however, the report of five passengers was declared positive. Borivali station tested 938 passengers and one was listed positive.
Passengers’ details, including name, address and phone number, were recorded before they were allowed to exit the station premises.
Meanwhile, chaos and a stampede-like situation prevailed at Bandra Terminus as passengers had to wait in a queue for hours as BMC officials undertook antigen tests. Many people on social media, expressed their concern about social distancing norms looking at the huge crowd on the railway stations.
Day 1 of screening in progress at Bandra Terminal and huge crowd has gathered. #coronavirus #COVID19India https://t.co/ZNhQxV7sDN
— Mumbai Live (@MumbaiLiveNews) November 25, 2020
As per railway authorities, in the last two days, after the announcement of screening and tests, the daily cancellations on Western Railway rose by 50 per cent while that on the central railway by 25 per cent but they hope this was just initial jitters.
On November 24, the BMC announced that it will screening outstation train commuters by spot testing for coronavirus symptoms at various railway stations from Wednesday, November 25 as the number of COVID-19 cases witnesses a surge in the city.
Also Read: BMC to screen outstation passengers at Dadar railway station from Nov 25
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