AC local services in Maharashtra has been suspended from March 20 with immediate effect to prevent the spread of coronavirus spread, reported news agency ANI. It will be replaced by non-AC suburban trains till the end of March. "The AC local services on the Western Railway in Maharashtra will be cancelled from March 20 and will be replaced by non-AC suburban services till March 31," said Public Relations Officer of Western Railway on Thursday as quoted by ANI.
Meanwhile, Indian Railways has also hiked the prices of platform tickets from Rs 10 to 50 in more than 250 stations across six divisions, including Pune, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Rajkot to prevent unnecessary gatherings in an effort to contain the spread of COVID-19. The Railway officials have said that AC coaches of Western, Central and South-Eastern will not provide blankets to contain coronavirus. Passengers should bring their own blankets for their convenience.