The citizens of Mumbai seem to be in a quandary with the rising fuel prices, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the onset of Mumbai monsoons which has made commuting across the city extremely difficult.
Due to the sharp rise in fuel prices, the financial budgets of ordinary households have been crippled. Moreover, due to the restrictions imposed by the outbreak of the coronavirus and the surge in cases, ordinary citizens have to wait a little longer in order to commute on the Mumbai locals. In addition, torrential rains have flooded roads as well as railway stations, creating a difficult situation for the people living in the island city.
Currently, local travel is permitted only for the people engaged in essential services. According to the statistics shared by railway authorities, at the moment, more than 30 lakh essential service personnel are travelling by train every day. Meanwhile, the Maharashtra government is reportedly planning to allow the general public to travel in Mumbai local trains in the fourth and final phase. Currently, only government, BMC and essential services staff are allowed to travel in suburban trains.
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the local trains, which has been hailed as the lifeline of Mumbai had opened their doors, after almost 10 months, for the general public on February 1, however, it closed soon after the second wave hit the state. Though, railway authorities have classified three-time slots for the general public - from the first service of the day to 7 am, 12 pm to 4 pm and 9 pm to the end of the day. The trains between 7 am and 12 pm and between 4 pm and 9 pm are available only for essential services.
ALSO READ: CCTV installation work in Mumbai local trains running at a slow pace
Share
Tweet
