In order to contain the spread of the coronavirus, the local trains in the city are being scrubbed and cleaned at regular intervals. The local trains that are helping ferry essential workers every day to their workplaces are being cleaned every day with soap and water along with a final bath with sodium hypochlorite.
For the effective sanitization of the locals thoroughly, the CR Mumbai division has placed ₹46 lakh work order to maintain the hygiene of EMU trains and cabs at seven designated spots; Kalyan, Titwala, Asangaon, Kasara, Ambernath, Badlapur and Karja. Currently, both the Central Railways (CR) and Western Railways (WR) are running 73 local trains (702 services) for essential workers from which 41 are running on CR while 32 on WR. Every nook and cranny of the trains which include the handles, seats, doors, grabbing poles are being sanitized. Apart from this, in order to ensure the safety of railway employees, driving cabs are also sanitized after every trip at crew changing points.
The local train service happens to be the lifeline of Mumbai. Its operations were suspended indefinitely in March this year for nearly two months in the wake of the coronavirus. However, the Western and Central Railways decided to resume operations in Mumbai from June 15. In order to curb the surge in the number of cases of coronavirus, only the people who are engaged in essential services would be able to travel in the local trains. People like police, doctors, nurses, municipal cleaners, journalists can traverse in the locals.
On July 1, Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal further announced the extension in a number of local trains being operated to ferry essential staff. Goyal stated that the railways were to expand 350 local trains in Mumbai from the month of July. The employees of the central government, Income Tax Department, Customs, Mumbai Port Trust, Courts, Public sector banks among others will now be allowed to board the local trains in Mumbai.
Share
Tweet
