COVID-19: State govt to introduce universal pass system for passengers travelling in Mumbai local trains
By Lokmat English Desk | Published: June 27, 2021 05:24 PM2021-06-27T17:24:18+5:302021-06-27T17:24:18+5:30
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The second wave of COVID-19 created havoc in Mumbai due to which public transport was discontinued.
After the first wave of COVID-19 subsided, the general public was allowed to travel by local train on a limited scale. However, after the positive cases showed a upward trend restrictions were again imposed on public travel.
However, due to the ban on local train travel due to rising cases there have been cases of passengers traveling with fake identity cards.
Still, only essential service personnel are allowed local travel. Despite this, the number of people traveling with fake passes or identity cards has increased over the last several days.
A new rule is being introduced by the state government to curb those traveling by bogus identity cards as well as to follow the rules of local ban.
The Disaster Management Department is collecting information on essential service personnel through an online system. These employees will also be verified.
The QR code will come on the mobiles of the employees of the essential services. The employees will get the pass only after showing the QR code on the railway ticket window, as per the decision by the state government.
Therefore, it is being said that now the employees in the essential services will get the integrated pass by showing the letter of authority. It is learned that a letter in this regard has also been given to the railways.
Efforts are being made by the state government and the railways to reduce congestion within public transport as the threat of a third wave looms large.
Millions of passengers are still traveling on the Central and Western Railways. Although the number of positive cases in the state seems to be declining, the state government is still not ready to allow local travel.
Since April, a fine of Rs 370,000 has been levied on those traveling on the Western Railway and Rs 351,000 on the Central Railway.
So, the local will not start in Mumbai till there is an end to the pandemic, the state's Minister for Relief and Rehabilitation Vijay Vadettiwar recently clarified.
Corona has not left the state. Corona is still in critical condition in some districts. Everyone must obey the rules of the corona. Mumbai is the state capital. It's a crowded place. Therefore, the local will not start in Mumbai till the end of Corona, he said.
