Office goers heave a sigh of relief as local train services resume in West Bengal

People in Bengal are happy that finally the railways have started local trains. This will bring a respite to the office going crowd where we are required to either take a cab or travel in over crowded buses. After nearly eight months of suspending operations due to the coronavirus pandemic, commuters in West Bengal heaved a sigh of relief after local trains and Metro services resumed on Wednesday.  

The state government had been deliberating with the Indian Railways on how to proceed with the decision, with railway authorities appealing to the people even on Tuesday to maintain strict Covid-19 protocols as the pandemic still rages on.

As per the protocols, trains are being operated with 50 per cent capacity.

Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday said that the Railways will operate 696 suburban services in West Bengal from November 11.

“Railways to operate 696 suburban services in West Bengal from tomorrow onwards, ensuring safe & convenient movement for the passengers of Kolkata,” he said on Twitter.

The Eastern Railway (ER) has urged commuters to observe strict guidelines.

Howrah is one of the busiest suburban railway transit points in India.

“Passengers are being requested to maintain discipline and avail alternate seats, after taking a note of the indications labelled on them,” an ER official said, according to news agency PTI.

Even the South Eastern Railway (SER) has said that the division has deployed railway and civil forces to monitor passengers.

“Arrangements have been made to sanitise coaches on a daily basis in addition to regular cleaning of platforms for ensuring everyone`s safety,” an SER spokesman stated.