According to sources, the state government is to reopen the suburban trains for all the commuters. Currently, it is only ferrying people who are engaged in essential services. If everything pans out as per plan, the locals could start next week.
As per reports, a discussion regarding the same was conducted by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray with the COVID-19 task force. The CM asked authorities to coordinate with the railways and take utmost caution in planning the resumption of operations for everyone. The Central and Western railways have said in the past that, if asked they would be in a position to roll out more trains at short notice.
Moreover, the local trains, that have been ferrying only the essential workers, will now be accessible to employees of two types of private firms, namely, electricity companies and approved aircraft maintenance and repair firms.
Meanwhile, the Bombay High Court had earlier asked the Uddhav Thackeray government about how long it plans to restrict suburban train services as a result of the pandemic. The was in response to the court hearing a petition with regards to applications seeking that lawyers be permitted to use the local train services in the city.
Under such circumstances, in the midst of the pandemic, people have been protesting in the city to be able to commute using the locals. As offices have resumed for most people living in the city nearly 200 office-goers held a protest outside Borivali Station last week as the State Transport buses did not arrive on time as a result of the traffic. The second protest on Monday was carried out near Virar Railway Station.
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