COVID-19: Western, Central Railway stop sale of platform tickets at Mumbai stations

Crowd at a station in Mumbai. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

The Western Railway on Friday stopped the sale of platform tickets with immediate effect to avoid unnecessary rush in view of COVID-19.

"Entry at stations is restricted only for passengers with confirmed tickets in Mumbai region," said Alok Kansal, general manager of Western Railway

Meanwhile, the Central Railway also announced the suspension of sale of platform tickets at its six long-distance train stations with immediate effect

"Sale of tickets has been suspended at Mumbai Kurla Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, Kalyan, Thane, Dadar, Panvel and Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus," Central Railway chief public relations officer Shivaji Sutar told mid-day.

The railways said that a number of videos showing crowds at railway stations across Mumbai have gone viral and they are not authentic.

"Announcement of additional trains if any to certain places is only an extension of ongoing gradual restoration of train services. The railway administration appeals to everyone that any speculation about the reasons or panic booking of trains may please be avoided in such challenging circumstances of COVID-19," Sutar said.

"Railways run more trains in summer for the convenience of passengers. Only passengers having confirmed tickets are being permitted to board the trains. Passengers are advised to adhere to all norms, SOPs related to COVID-19 during the boarding, travel and at destination," he added.

Earlier last month, the Central Railway had increased the price of platform tickets to Rs 50 from 10 at some key stations in Maharashtra to avoid crowding in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.