Mumbai local trains: As daily tickets get green light, railways steps up checking

As the railways resumed selling daily tickets, there was no sudden surge in crowds at stations across the city on Monday. Since there is no way to ensure that only fully vaccinated citizens visit the counters as single-journey tickets do not carry the holder's name like a season pass, officials said, their focus will now shift to ticket checking. As per rules, commuters must get their vaccination certificate authenticated.

Explaining the decision to intensify ticket checking, an official said, "Single-journey tickets are easily transferable, and anyone can buy a ticket for anyone. So, there is no real way to ensure that only fully vaccinated people are buying tickets. Hence, we have stepped up ticket checking. This means random checks on commuters at stations and on trains to cross check if they hold a universal pass or an authenticated vaccine certificate," a senior official said.

A commuter shows her vaccination certificate at a ticket counter at Dadar on October 31. Pic/Ashish Raje

Mumbai's local train services resumed for fully vaccinated passengers on August 15. Both Central and Western railways have restored 100 per cent services since October 28.

Commuters happy

Chinchpokli resident Rajesh Awasthi was at CSMT after he finished some passport related work. "I had taken a universal pass on Sunday. I was not asked for any other documents, they straight away gave me a ticket. It was a nice experience to get back on the train."

Pradnya Datar had been to Girgaum to buy Diwali special food. "I did not have a universal pass, they stamped my vaccine certificate after verification and I was given a ticket. It was time consuming, but I got the ticket."

Commuters in queue for tickets at CSMT on Monday evening

Office-goer Laxman Kumar said the single-journey ticket was of great help. "Coincidentally my pass expired today and I had to buy a daily ticket. They should start the online system as soon as possible."

Subhash Gupta of commuter body Yatri Sangh travelled on locals from Virar to Churchgate and to Kurla to interact with train users.

Gupta said, "The railways should start online ticketing quickly. It will reduce crowds at booking offices. I have also requested commuters to avoid unnecessary travel."

Oct 31
When state allowed single-journey local train tickets

Local train updates in Oct

Oct 27 State issues order making full vax mandatory, essential workers or not
Oct 28 CR and WR resume 100% services
Oct 29 Widespread discontent and protests among commuters as single-journey tickets remain suspended
Oct 31 Maharashtra government allows single-journey ticket for the fully vaccinated

Commuters to Pune, Nashik demand pass

Hundreds of people regularly travelling from Mumbai to Pune and Nashik have demanded restoration of monthly season tickets. "There are many who travel from Mumbai to Pune and Nashik for work every day. Such commuters had a reserved MST coach. Due to pandemic restrictions, these coaches were removed and passes suspended. Now, the railways should bring back the MST and coaches too," commuter Ramesh Selvan said. Another commuter Nitesh Nevshe said Nashik-Mumbai commuters have moved court and Pune-Mumbai are also planning a similar move.