NE NEWS SERVICE
CHENNAI, DEC 22
Southern Railway on Tuesday said general public will be allowed to travel on Chennai suburban trains during non-peak hours from Wednesday (December 23, 2020), a release from General Manager said.
Currently, Southern Railway has been running suburban train services exclusively for Railway employees as workmen’s special in the Chennai region after the COVID-19 lockdown was enforced.
With unlock guidelines being issued from time to time and taking into account the prevailing pandemic situation, Southern Railway has also been making relaxation in the pattern of train services in the suburban sector in various phases.
Under phase-I, employees engaged in the organisations rendering essential services were permitted to travel. Female passengers were allowed to travel during the non-peak hours under phase-2.
From 23rd December, Indian Railways permits general public to travel by suburban train services in Chennai during non-peak hours.
With adequate safety measures in place, this will greatly enhance ease of movement & passenger convenience. pic.twitter.com/IhD6dyQ14D
— Piyush Goyal (मोदी का परिवार) (@PiyushGoyal) December 22, 2020
“From 23rd December, Indian Railways permits general public to travel by suburban train services in Chennai during non-peak hours. With adequate safety measures in place, this will greatly enhance ease of movement & passenger convenience,” Goyal said in a tweet.
This relaxation comes under phase-3, a statement from the Railways said.
Southern Railway has been increasing the number of train services in view of these phased relaxations.
At present, number of train services run are 410 which is about 65 per cent of normal train operations in the Chennai suburban sector.
The non-peak hours are from the early hours of the day to 7 am, 9:30 am to 4:30 pm and from 7 pm to the closing hours of the day, the statement said.
During these timings the general public would be allowed to travel duly following all the COVID-19 guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, it said.
The intermittent timings will be considered as peak hours – 7 am to 9:30 am and 4:30 pm to 7 pm, the statement said.
During these peak hours, as it was prevalent earlier, only the employees engaged in the organisation rendering essential services shall be allowed to travel.
“It is reiterated that the general public will not be allowed during these peak hours,” it said.
Southern Railway appeals to all the passengers using suburban train services to follow all the COVID-19 protocols issued from time to time by Ministry of Health & Family welfare, Govt of India and Government of Tamil Nadu from time to time.
- Please do not enter station premises and train without wearing mask
- Please do not crowd while boarding and de-boarding the train
- Please maintain social distancing in station premises and on board
- Please co-operate with Railway employees for checking your valid documents at stations and during your journey.
