Coronavirus Lockdown: Here’s Why Passengers Will Not Be Able To Travel In THESE Special Trains

In line with PM Modi’s last week announcement of 21-day lockdown to combat the further spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the Indian Railways suspended passenger trains till April 14, 2020. This means passenger trains, suburban trains, and Kolkata Metro rail will not run till 2400 hours of April 14. However, the goods trains continue to run as per the schedule to ensure an uninterrupted and seamless supply chain of goods and essential commodities across the country.

In a notification issued last week, the Ministry of Railways said, “In continuation of the measures taken in the wake of COVID-19, Ministry of Railways has decided to extend the cancellation of passenger train services on Indian Railways, i.e. all Mail/Express trains (including premium trains), passenger trains, suburban trains and trains of Metro Railway, Kolkata shall be extended till 2400 hrs of 14th April, 2020. However, freight train operations are being continued to ensure the supply essential commodities.”

Notably, the Central Railway is running the special parcel trains on the following routes:

• Kalyan  - New Delhi
• Nashik - New Delhi
• Kalyan - Santraghachi
• Kalyan  - Guwahati

Additionally, special Parcel express trains are running on the New Delhi-Gauhati, New Delhi-Mumbai, New Delhi-Kalyan, New Delhi-Howrah, Chandigarh-Jaipur, and Moga-Chhangsari routes. Also, the different zones of the Indian Railways are operating parcel trains.

The provision of parcel trains was made for the rapid transportation of essential goods including dairy products, medical equipment, and medicines, groceries, edible oil, etc. It is to be noted that passengers are not allowed to travel on these trains.

Recently, Railways converted as many as 20,000 coaches of the passenger trains into isolation wards as part of its preparedness to fight the coronavirus outbreak.

The death count in India has reached over 50 due to the outbreak of novel coronavirus in the country. According to the latest update, more than 1,500 cases of coronavirus has been reported in India so far. Maharashtra is the most affected state due to coronavirus, with death count rising to 12 and positive cases going up to 320.

Also Read: Coronavirus Pandemic: Modi Govt Seeks Supreme Court Directive To Media On Publication Of COVID-19 Related News

It is worth mentioning here that the novel coronavirus, which originated in China, has claimed thousands of lives across the world. Over 8,00,000 people have been infected with the coronavirus across the globe, with the global death toll rising to 42,000. With no known cure so far for the coronavirus, the deadly disease has become a major issue for the entire world.

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