Mumbai: Central government nationalised bank employees allowed to travel in local trains from July 1

MUMBAI: Central government employees, including those from the nationalised bank will be allowed to travel on suburban network as railways will run 700 local trains from July 1.
In addition to the essential staff already permitted to travel by select suburban services, defence personnel and employees of Central Government, Income Tax, GST & Customs, Department of Posts, employees of Nationalised Banks, Mumbai Port Trust, Judiciary and Raj Bhavan will be permitted to travel in these select suburban services.
Western Railway (WR) and Central Railway (CR) began running suburban train services from June 15 for employees of state government, local self government, public transport bodies and those involved in health care. Around 1.25 lakh passengers travel daily now.
The numbers may double as more than 1 lakh new passengers are expected to travel from Wednesday.
Presently, a total 200 services are being run on CR, out of which 130 services are running between CSMT and Kasara/Karjat/Kalyan/Dombivali/Thane on main line and 70 services are running between CSMT and Panvel on harbour line.
CR's chief public relations officer Shivaji Sutar said, "A total of 150 more services will be added to the existing services making the total to 350 services. The number of services may be modified as per the requirement to ensure social distancing norms."
These trains will halt at major stations only as that of fast locals. In the harbour line also, the trains will halt at major stations only.
On WR, a total 202 services are running on fast as well as slow corridor.
WR spokesperson said, "In addition to these services, 148 more suburban services will be added Therefore, total 350 suburban services will be operated on WR too."
Railway has clarified that these selected suburban services will not be for general passengers/public and will be strictly for essential staff, as identified by the state government of Maharashtra.
Sutar said, "Entry will be given at stations strictly through ID cards of essential staff, as identified by the state government. Later on, the staff will be issued QR based E-passes which will also bear colour coding to enable swifter ticket checking. State government will ensure issuing these passes."
Railway has urged state government to ensure all those allowed to travel, are are medically fit and do not come from a containment zone.
To ensure adequate social distancing in the coaches, unlike its seating capacity to accommodate about 1,200 persons, only about 700 are to be allowed.
Railway minister Piyush Goyal tweeted, "Railways to expand to 350 local trains ( each on CR and WR) in Mumbai from tomorrow."
A total of 80 lakh passengers travel in 3141 services, including 1367 on WR and 1774 on CR ( 858 on mainline, 612 on Harbour and 264 on Transharbour and 40 on Seawood-Belapur-Uran line).