Pune-Mumbai commuters demand train resumption

Pune: The Municipal Corporation, as well as other government offices in Mumbai, has directed its employees and staffers to resume on duty as soon as possible. There are thousands of people who travel Pune-Mumbai-Pune daily by trains but now amid the lockdown, these daily travellers are facing a huge problem. The travellers who generally are employees of government offices now have pleaded with the government to start train services for Pune-Mumbai-Pune.

On the backdrop of the COVID-19, public transport such as train, bus service has been halted. Over 2,000 daily travellers who travel between two metro cities are affected.

Trains such as Deccan Queen, Pragati Express, Sinhagad Express depart from Pune to Mumbai in the morning whereas Deccan Express, Intercity Express and Indrayani travel to Mumbai in the evening. The passengers who travel all along to Mumbai return from the same trains to Pune at night.

Most of the working class passengers for work purposes are deployed in service in Kalyan, Thane, Dadar and CST.

Earlier due to lockdown the employees from Pune could claim difficulties in travelling to Mumbai but after a span of three and half months the Mumbai based various offices have asked the government staffers to resume but still, there is no clarification from Railways about the resumption of these trains.

Speaking to Sakal Times few government employees on condition of anonymity said, "Since the trains are not functioning, we are travelling to Mumbai daily in a gang of four to five people and the expenses of a day is Rs 5,000-6,000. We have no other option as well as staying in Mumbai is also tough."

Another woman government employee shared, "Earlier we had to visit the office once a week or in 15 days’ time and now daily we bear some Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000 just for travelling."