The state government of Maharashtra and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) recently permitted fully vaccinated citizens in Mumbai to travel by the local trains. Sharing more information about the same, Mumbai Municipal Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal said the decision was taken after multiple discussions with railway officials.
Commissioner Chahal, while interacting with the media, said that an hour-long discussion with Central Railway Manager Anil Lahoti was held on Thursday, August 5, 2021, whereby he suggested the officials to take the initiative of resuming local train services for the people of Mumbai. Issues were presented to the Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray for further discussion and thorough consideration was given to the QR code, monthly pass and other options available with the railway officials.
He said that the decision was being taken keeping citizens' trust and faith in mind and only those who have completed the 14-day period after both doses of getting coronavirus vaccine will be allowed to travel by the local train. Passengers will be given QR code and will be allowed only after showing the certificate. Eligible passengers can travel by local train only after getting the pass based on the QR code and the state government's app can be used for the same. Travelers from Mumbai Metropolitan Regions (MMR) can also use this app.
The BMC will take the responsibility of setting up a system for the same said Commissioner Chahal.
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Meanwhile, if the state government has held discussions to improve the safety aspects during the commute and the coordination will be the key priority over the next few weeks. Passengers will be able to get the pass only after showing the certificate of being fully vaccinated, post which the QR code will be needed for the train journey. Currently, the railway administration does not have a mechanism to check the QR code and the matter is being discuss to facilitate the same.
The government has a record of the citizens who have taken both the doses and hence strict measures will be taken to check the same. Officials from the concerned departments have been asked to set up a system to check QR codes and passes at the entrances of railway stations.
Meanwhile, Union Minister of State (MoS) for Railways, Raosaheb Danve, has also shared his thought regarding the same. He said that the responsibility is now with the state and the the railways would allow the citizens to travel smoothly after verification.
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