Mumbai local train services to be opened for general public starting Feb 1; curtailed timings announced
Mumbai local trains are popularly referred to as the lifeline of the maximum city.
Mumbai local train services for general public from Feb 1 | Photo Credit: PTI
Mumbai: Local trains in Mumbai will return to full service starting February 1, the Maharashtra government announced on Friday. As per the details available, the general public will be allowed to board Mumbai suburban trains starting Monday, February 1. Earlier it was reported that the local trains services will be restored almost fully starting today, i.e. January 29.
As per the order issued by the Maharahstra government, which was cleared by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, the general public will be allowed to travel on Mumbai locals till 7 am from the start of the first local train service. Then, they can use the service between 12 noon and 4 pm in the afternoon and then after 9 pm in the night till the end of service.
From 7 am to 12 noon and from 4 pm to 9 pm, only essential services staff will be allowed to use local train services in the country's financial capital.
Women, meanwhile, will be allowed to travel during peak time slots as well.
Mumbai local trains are popularly referred to as the lifeline of the maximum city. Earlier, the state government, the Railways and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials had met recently to discuss the resumption of full service of Mumbai local trains. The meeting was chaired by the Maharashtra Chief Minister.
The Traffic Control Department of the Mumbai Central Division of Western Railway had reportedly sent a letter to all station masters for opening local trains for all. Station masters were informed to run trains on a full schedule from the date declared by the state government, which is now February 1.
As of now, the Western and Central lines are only open for commuters who come under essential services. Women are allowed to avail the services freely during peak hours.
Officials of the Central Railway had earlier said that they had started working on a full resumption of services; however, Mumbai Mirror reported that no official orders had been received in this regard.
Several models were deliberated in order to fully resume services, the report had quoted officials as saying. Full services will only be resumed during non-peak hours, an official had informed earlier.
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As many as 80 lakh passengers used the local train services in Mumbai before the lockdown was imposed in March 2020 after the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. Presently, only 20 lakh passengers are travelling on local trains. However, Mumbai locals are likely to return to their near-full capacity soon.