Day 2: Local trains use up 25% to 75,000 in Mumbai, no decision on bank staff

MUMBAI: Around 75,000 essential services workers took suburban trains on Tuesday, up 25% from around 60,000 (30,000 each on WR and CR) on Monday when the services resumed. A total of 362 services were operated on all corridors with the capacity to carry 1.25 lakh passengers ensuring social distancing.
However, banking and other service staffers, who can take buses and taxis, were not allowed. State officials said services resumed for those engaged directly in Covid-related work, like hospital and municipal staff, many of who travel 2-3 hours by bus to get to work and if too many people are allowed, it would be difficult to screen them. An official said the state has received requests from other essential services establishments, but no decision was taken.
Offices organise vehicles for staff as rly commuters swell
Western Railway expects the number of passengers to cross 40,000 by the end of the day, its chief public relations officer Ravinder Bhakar said, while on Central Railway, there was a build-up in crowd, and its chief public relations officer Shivaji Sutar said by 8pm, around 25,000 travelled, but the figure could touch 35,000 by midnight.
Railways had resumed services for emergency service staff on Monday. Many staff who were not included in the state government list were upset and “many private offices or offices that are part of essential services, have arranged for drops and pick-ups for employees,” said an official.
Dombivli resident Suyash Patade, who commutes to CSMT, said, “More booking windows should be opened as the queue moved slowly due to social distancing.”
Petrol pump dealers’ association on Tuesday petitioned chief minister Uddhav Thackeray to include attendants and other staff as “essential” for suburban train travel.
Association president M Venkat Rao told TOI pumps in Mumbai, Thane and Raigad were operating daily during lockdown as “essentials” but there was an acute shortage of staff as many attendants in Mumbai who come from Vasai-Virar, Ambernath and Panvel, were unable to report to work.
Rao said they should be allowed train travel so that they can provide services at 250 petrol, diesel, CNG pumps in Mumbai region.
Also, petrol and diesel prices were hiked for the tenth day in a row, with petrol going up by 45 paise and diesel by 54 paise. The retail price of petrol at Mumbai pumps is Rs 83.62, while diesel’s Rs 73.75.
Meanwhile, two layers of security checks have been set up at railway stations, according to standard operating procedure of Government Railway Police. Intermittent public announcements have to be made and floor markings for passengers should be made on platforms with a five-foot gap.
Personnel have been advised to avoid direct contact with passengers, such as shaking hands, and wearing face shields, masks, gloves and using hand sanitisers on the job is mandatory.
(With inputs by Nitasha Natu)