mid-day takes a trip in a local train to see how passengers travelled on Day 1 of opening of locals for all
Passengers were mostly seated in this Thane-Mumbai CSMT train
Even as local trains opened up for the general public on Monday, taking a suburban one from Thane to Mumbai CSMT was quite a mixed experience. Though more and more passengers boarded the train at every stop, some at Parel station did not get in to avoid the crowd, and preferred to wait for the next one. However, passengers tried to maintain social distance and most were found to be seated.
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When this reporter boarded the 7 am train from Thane, it was completely empty. Slowly commuters got in at every station and the crowd started to build. However, they managed to maintain social distance and were seen wearing masks throughout. As more and more people boarded the train, at Dadar passengers avoided crowding near the doors to get off. While there was no scope to leave the alternate seats vacant, most passengers were seated.
However, when the train reached Parel station, most of the commuters waiting at the platform did not board the train, as it was already crowded. They preferred to wait for the next one. The ride ahead was a smooth one with not many passengers boarding the train beyond Byculla. As the train reached Mumbai CSMT around 8 am, groups of ticket checkers and RPF personnel were spotted checking and scanning passenger tickets.
As far as checks are concerned, passengers have to undergo a security check at the entry gates of stations. Thereafter, a few categories of passengers were issued only single journey tickets so that while returning they buy fresh tickets to travel within the stipulated time.
What all is open
>> Food canteens: Allowed to open
>> Newspaper stalls: Allowed to open
>> Ticketing: Booking windows open. £Passengers may update the new version of UTS app and click on the option ‘sync active tickets’ to renew the season tickets.
The UTS app
will not work between 7 am-12 noon and 4 pm- 9 pm.
Day 1 sees 42% of pre-COVID crowd
Addition of passengers: 11.5 lakh on Day 1
January 29 (last working day)
WR passenger count - 9.50 lakh
CR passenger count - 13 lakh
February 1
WR passenger count - 15 lakh
CR passenger count - 19 lakh
Total (CR+WR) on January 29 - 22.50 lakh
Total (CR+WR) on Feb 1 - 34 lakh
Sale of AC local passes increases
>39 commuters bought season tickets/passes for AC local on February 1 and 22 commuters bought single tickets
Caught without tickets
CR: 1,600 passengers (R5 lakh fine collected)
WR: 396 passengers (R1 lakh fine collected)
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