COVID-19: Officials brace for local train restrictions in Mumbai

Officials say there may be a 15-day ban after April 1, commuter representatives flatly refuse prospect, ask government to get more creative

Will local trains face restrictions again? Though the railways and other transport undertakings in the city have not been given any hint or official communication about a ban amid the new lockdown, a number of senior government officials said that state authorities might target local trains yet again, at least for 15 days. Commuter organisations in the city were also divided on the issue.

People with their masks down seen at Malad station on Sunday

A senior official said that March 31 is the financial year ending so the state government would allow seamless continuation of offices till April 1 and may come up with a big announcement on April 2 evening. The chief minister’s office has issued directives to the administration to roll up its sleeves for a lockdown. “The numbers are not stopping, and the Maharashtra government will have to show that it is serious about curbing numbers and may have to take serious steps,” another official said.

“We are heading towards another disaster and looks like it is necessary to restrict access to local trains. At least for 15 days till things normalise. The problem is that people have not been listening and the best way would be to stop public access to local trains and only keep them open for essential workers. This way it will help in bringing down the numbers,” Shailesh Goyal of Western Railway Zonal Users’ Consultative Committee said.

‘Lockdown not a solution’
“An absolute no. Half the crowds have been travelling currently. This will hurt more people in MMR. It would not be appropriate to touch local trains again. The government could ban visiting religious and other places, but not trains,” National Railway Users’ Consultative Committee member Subhash H Gupta from Yatri Sangh Mumbai said.

“Does COVID-19 spread only through local trains? People have lost jobs and are suffering. Life is slowly coming back to normal. A train lockdown will mean doom for people. The government should think of more novel ways to enforce stricter measures against violators,” said Himanshu Vartak, consultative committee member for Palghar station.

“Lockdown is not a solution. Violators should be fined heavily and people without symptoms should be allowed to work from home. Unfortunately, people are not screened at government offices itself. COVID may stay for the next decade, lockdown is not a solution,” said Siddhesh Desai of Mumbai Rail Pravasi Sangh.

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