BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha government on Thursday requested the railway board to cancel all passenger trains (local, mail or express) coming from Chhattisgarh (originating or through passing) to Odisha with effect from April 10t.
Presently, a total of 18 pairs of passenger trains of the East Coast Railway are either originating or through passing Chhattisgarh, said official sources.
In a letter to railway board chairman Suneet Sharma, chief secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra also requested to ensure that all passengers travelling to Odisha, from anywhere by train, must have an RT-PCR negative test report of maximum 72 hours before the start of journey or a second dose vaccination certificate. The restrictions shall come into force from boarding date of Saturday (April 10th).
The state government’s request came in view of significant surge in Covid-19 spread in many states such as Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.
“Though the situation in Odisha is not alarming, the cross-border movement of people is now impacting the Covid situation adversely in almost all border districts of Odisha,” said Mahapatra in his letter.