New rule that makes monthly passes valid from August 15 means they cannot board trains as easily as they used to
People queue up at the verification booth of Dadar railway station on Wednesday. Pic/Pradeep Dhivar
Local trains will remain inaccessible to teachers from across the city till August 15 even if they have taken both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine and completed 14 days since then. While earlier on some occasions they were allowed to board the locals considering result work, now even though if they get the monthly pass, it will be valid only after I-Day.
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Requesting anonymity, a teacher said, “There is so much clerical work that I need to go to my school at Cotton Green on some days. Generally, they issue a ticket after checking my school ID, but now they are not ready to give me a ticket despite me having taken both the doses. They say the pass is valid only after August 15.” However, she managed to get a ticket from another window at Borivli station.
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This has become a major issue for teachers, as the new rule has made the process stricter. While some teachers managed to get the monthly pass by showing the relevant documents, some others could not do it due to lack of such facilities at their nearest railway stations.
Professor Vaibhav Narawade from Mumbai University College Teachers’ Association, said, “I have been going to college regularly. Sometimes I’m given a ticket without any problems, and sometimes I am not allowed. Today I did not see the monthly pass facility at the Ghatkopar station from where I usually board.” Anil Panchal, principal of Gandhi Balmandir School in Kurla, said, “I was issued the monthly pass, but was not allowed to board the train today because it will be valid only from August 15. What do I do till then? I have to go to school every day.” Panchal boards from Seawoods stn.
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