Platform ticket rate increased at 8 railway stations

PATNA: The Sonepur division of East Central Railway (ECR) has increased the platform ticket rate from Rs10 to Rs50 at eight selected stations of the division. These stations are Muzaffarpur, Hajipur, Barauni, Khagaria, Sonepur, Begusarai, Mansi and Naughachia, sources said, adding that the increased platform ticket rate will remain in force till May 15 only.
Railways has taken this decision following an advisory issued by the Railway Board to reduce gathering of people on platforms when there is an alarming spike in the Covid-19 cases in Bihar, sources said, adding the increase in the platform ticket rate will check unnecessary entry of people on railway platforms of these stations.
Besides, railways has installed four steam inhaler booths at the coaching depot at Muzaffarpur to facilitate frontline railway staff, particularly loco pilots and guards, to inhale steam before signing in on their duty as a precautionary measure, an ECR official said.
Meanwhile, nine out of the 716 passengers, who reached Patna Junction on Saturday by Lokmanya Tilak–Patna special train (03202), tested positive for Covid-19. They were isolated in a city hotel by the state health department staff, sources said.
Similarly, at least 27 out of over 200 passengers who reached Sitamarhi on Friday from different places by special passenger trains were detained by railway doctors for the time being due to fever. Subsequently they were allowed to go home after finding no symptoms for Covid-19, an ECR official said.