Mumbai local trains gear up for Day 1

Western Railway carried out maintenance work of tracks, signalling and overhead equipment near the Kandivli workshop on Sunday, before all passengers are allowed on trains from today

The Mumbai railways on Sunday announced that they had geared up fully for the re-opening of the suburban railway network in Mumbai from February 1 to all passengers.

A train being cleaned. Pics/Satej Shinde, Bipin Kokate

A railway spokesperson said that all the authorised entry-exit gates, lifts, escalators, footover bridges closed due to COVID-19, all commercial ticket counters and ATVM machines for booking will be opened. This is in addition to the UTS on mobile app for fresh ticketing. A few new foot bridges that were completed in the lockdown period will add to the capacity.

"Only for season ticket extension and renewals, commuters will have to visit the ticket booking counters, otherwise fresh ticketing can be done on the UTS app," he said.

"Apart, from this, there will be more deployment of security forces at crowd-sensitive stations and assistance of local police is being taken to manage crowds outside. Since wearing of masks is compulsory, in co-ordination with the municipal corporation, there will be drives about it. Random checking of tickets will be done to see that people are travelling as per the scheduled time given," he added.

"Suburban trains have been restored to 95 % capacity with 1,685 services on Central Railway and 1,300 services on the Western Railway. Teams have also been formed for regular sanitisation of the additional trains pressed into service for re-opening with focus on public contact areas," he said.

In addition to this, awareness measures like continuous announcements asking people to follow all COVID-19 mandated norms, protocols will be made, as also additional posters to create awareness about these rules will be put up. Wherever possible, there will be efforts to segregate incoming and outgoing passengers at stations and termini so that there is no crowding.

As locals start, MSRTC takes back 100 buses
Following the resumption of local trains, the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) has decided to withdraw 100 of its buses from the BEST fleet, considering the shortage of buses in its state-wide operations. These buses were part of a total of 1,000 buses that the BEST had been provided on lease to ferry office-goers during peak hours in Mumbai. As per the existing arrangements, the buses were being used on BEST routes and after the trips, the money was deposited at BEST depots and buses taken for parking to MSRTC depots.

What to expect
>> Entry-exit gates will be manned and random checking will be done in coordination with GRP and ticketing staff to prevent entry of unauthorised people in railway area
>> Maximum staff to be deployed on the field like platforms, FOBS, entry/exit points and other vital locations
>> Staff deployed for duties at strategic locations will be provided with walkie talkies, whistles, ropes, barricades and loud speakers
>> Platform staff briefed regarding the nature of duties and to behave gently with passengers in all situations
>> Wearing of masks compulsory and a fine to be imposed on passengers found not wearing masks, in co-ordination with BMC authorities and GRP
>> Staff deployed at booking offices with rope and barricades for social distancing
>> Coordination with medical department to arrange teams at all major stations for any eventuality
>> Staff deployed at CCTV monitoring room to relay simultaneous information to all concerned, to avoid gathering of passengers and maintain social distancing

FAQs by commuters

If I board the train at 6am and reach mid-way by 7am, will I be asked to deboard?
No. The idea is to start the journey before 7am and it can be completed with proper tickets.

What happens to lady commuters now? Will they be allowed to travel in the earlier time slot 11am to 3pm and 7pm onwards?
There is no change in existing time slots and the new ones are for general male commuters.

Will mobile tickets be available?
Yes. Mobile UTS ticketing will be opened and general commuters allowed in the permitted time slots. For season ticket renewals, one will have to visit booking windows

I will be switching trains from main line to harbour line or from CR to WR after 7am, will that be permitted?
Yes. The idea is to be inside the railway station premises by 7 am.