BENGALURU: With Memu/Demu services all set to resume from Monday, South Western Railway (SWR) is taking precautionary measures to ensure social distancing in trains and stations.
Bengaluru divisional railway manager (DRM) Ashok Kumar Verma said: “SWR will be the first railway zone in the country to resume unreserved passenger trains after the lockdown. All steps are being taken to ensure social distancing via proper marking. Memu and Demu rakes are being sanitised.”
He said 100 additional thermal scanners are being procured. “RPF staff will screen passengers at 13 of the nearly 70 stations in the division. At other stations, a cleaning staffer will be given the responsibility. In stations where cleaning staff are not available, scouts and guides will be roped in. They will be trained by the divisional medical team,” he explained.
Verma said only one pair of commuter trains is planned in each section and medical screening will take less than one hour at stations. “It’s not feasible to recruit dedicated staff only for this purpose.”
“Alternate seats will be marked in coaches to ensure social distancing. Passengers will have to wear masks throughout the journey. We are planning to distribute masks to those without them,” added Verma.
SWR is planning to operate the trains between December 7 and 17. “We will take a decision to extend the services based on the patronage and feedback,” said Verma. However, he said there is no plan to resume unreserved travel in other trains.
SWR on Thursday has decided to operate 52 additional special trains, including 12 short distance passenger trains connecting Bengaluru, in all directions (Mysuru, Hassan, Hindupur, Hosur, Marikuppam/Bangarpet). This is expected to help daily commuters who visit Bengaluru to earn a livelihood. These services for six days in a week (except Sunday) will be operated as per guidelines of the Union ministry of home affairs and standard operating procedure of Union health ministry.
He said a help desk has been set up at KSR Bengaluru, Yeswantpur and Krishnarajpuram stations for conducting random Covid test by BBMP officials.
TCTB to be named after Sir Visvesvaraya
The upcoming Third Coaching Terminal at Byappanahalli (TCTB) will be renamed Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminal, Bengaluru. The government on Friday issued a gazette notification after getting the Centre’s nod. Kannada Development Authority recently demanded the terminal be named after a Kannadiga. Bengaluru divisional railway manager Ashok Kumar Verma said the terminal will be operational by February.
Covid coaches to ferry veggies
After underutilising 320 passenger coaches that were converted into isolation wards, SWR is planning to remodify them and use them to transport goods, including vegetables. Verma said: “Only the middle berths of sleeper coaches were removed and they can be used to transport goods.” He also stated there is an increase in revenue from freight traffic. “We are also planning to operate cargo trains from Kolar to Howrah or Danapur to transport tomatoes.”