Updated: October 16, 2020 9:23:54 pm
Apart from all the emergency service providers, women will be able to board local trains during limited hours. (Proceedings)
Western Railway (WR) said on Friday that it will not start Mumbai suburban train services for women from October 17, hours after the Maharashtra government gave its go-ahead.
He also stated that services can start only after the modalities are defined after a meeting between the state and railway authorities.
As of now, only those considered essential service providers can board the local trains. Mumbai suburban train services, the lifeblood of the metropolis, were shut down on March 23 as part of the nationwide shutdown.
Following a letter from the state government about the resumption of train services for women, Western Railway said it will need approval from the railroad board to allow women to board the trains.
“Railway officials and the Maharashtra government will have a meeting to quantify the number of passengers and then establish a protocol on maintaining social distancing, then only we will be able to take the last call,” said Sumit Thakur, director of public relations for WR .
“Once the approval of the Railroad Board is received, said permission can be communicated. Without permission, it would not be possible to allow women during the stipulated hours as of October 17 on suburban trains, ”Western Railways said in a statement.
Earlier in the day, the state government asked the Railways to allow women access to train services between 11 am and 3 pm and from 7 pm until the last service.
The partial resumption of services was announced on June 15, but only those considered essential service providers were able to board these trains after receiving a special pass.
Now, the state government is gradually allowing economic activities to function, allowing libraries, cinemas, restaurants and bars to open under the guidelines of ‘Mission start over’.
From October 19 Mumbai subway will also resume operations in a staggered manner. The new guidelines also state that 50 percent of teaching and non-teaching staff can be called into schools at the same time for online teaching and remote assistance students. Business-to-business exhibitions, as well as local weekly bazaars, including animal bazaars, may also reopen outside of containment zones.
There has been increasing pressure from the general public, as well as from public representatives, to allow the resumption of normal rail services for all. Mumbai Guardian Minister Aditya Thackeray had previously given an indication that there might be some normalization of services in mid-October.
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