Commuter figures on local trains have been on a fall since last week as per emerging reports. A senior railway official has said that daily passengers have fallen to below 15 lakhs on Central Railway (CR) and Western Railway (WR) lines.
However, there’s no information on whether the decline is due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic or because of other factors such as Holi or other festivities. The official added that people should wait for at least a week until coming to a conclusion about the reason behind the downward trend of commuters on CR and WR lines.
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It’s worth pointing out that passenger numbers on suburban trains have fallen after the State Government announced a new 50 per cent attendance rule for offices starting March 15. The March 28 mega-block may also partly explain the declining passenger numbers.
As per statistics provided by WR, around 13 lakh passengers travelled on its trains this Monday. CR’s passenger numbers were somewhat firm at 15 lakhs. However, this is significantly lower than the 20 lakh daily passengers recorded last month on both lines.
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Given the uptick in COVID-19 cases across Mumbai, there has been speculation that the state may consider imposing restrictions on local trains. However, no such directives have been passed for trains or any other modes of transport as of yet.
Railway officials continue to advise passengers to maintain distance and wear a mask at all times. Passengers have also been asked to check travel advisories established by other states prior to travelling there.
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