Mumbai Local News: Restore Local Trains In Mumbai Or Pay INR 5,000 As Travelling Allowance: BJP To Govt

The general public was banned from traveling by local in Mumbai after the second wave of coronavirus erupted. However, with the cases receding, the citizens have urged to allow them to travel by locals.

Despite that, no decision has been taken to lift the ban. Therefore, Maharashtra unit of BJP on Monday, July 12, has made a big demand to the state government, drawing attention to the plight of Mumbaikars.

BJP chief spokesperson Keshav Upadhyay said that the Maharashtra government should immediately allow everyone to commute by local or they should provide INR 5,000 per month as travel allowance to each individual.

It also urged the state government to restore the frequency of all local trains to facilitate a hassle-free travel. At present, only employees of essential services are allowed to board the limited number of trains. The restriction was brought in to ensure social distancing in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A day earlier, Maharashtra BJP leader Pravin Darekar on Sunday had said that the saffron party will launch protests if the state government doesn't allow people who have taken two doses of COVID-19 vaccine to travel by suburban trains in Mumbai.

The state government closed the suburban rail services for the general public for the last one and a half years. This is causing huge inconvenience to the daily wage earner as well as the toiling masses who are employees in private sector and business.

In absence of local train services, commuting long distances in Mumbai and suburbs is both expensive and time-consuming. Keshav Upadhyay said that the common man is beginning to suspect that this is a ploy to tie the knot of private transporters in Mumbai.

The Chief Minister had said that the state government had set aside INR 7,000 crore for the purchase of vaccines. Upadhyay has also advised the government to give that amount as travel allowance to the common man and to avoid the outburst of anger of the common man.

Also Read: Mumbai local trains can start immediately if state government seeks permission: Raosaheb Danve