Finally, after months of suspending local train services, the Maharashtra government on Friday announced the local trains in Mumbai will return to full service starting February 1. Mumbai local train services had been suspended in March last year due to the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's office also clarified that the local train services will be opened to the general public in fixed time slots from Monday.
As per the order issued by the Maharashtra government, the general public will be allowed to travel on Mumbai locals till 7 am from the start of the first local train service. Then, they can use the service between 12 noon and 4 pm in the afternoon and then after 9 pm in the night till the end of service. From 7 am to 12 noon and from 4 pm to 9 pm, only essential services staff will be allowed to use local train services in the country's financial capital. Women, meanwhile, will be allowed to travel during peak time slots as well.
Mumbai local train services are quite essential for the Mumbaikars, especially for the economically weaker sections. The authorities have appealed to all travelers to follow standard operating protocols when in the station or on board the trains, including wearing face masks and maintaining social distancing to minimize contact with other people.
However, the question arises the Mumbai locals are usually jam-packed with crowds then how the government is planning to ensure social distancing? Going by the reports, an extra 204 special local services would run on the Mumbai suburban network to balance demand and maintain social distancing.