Maharashtra(MH) may shortly watch the restart of inter-district train travel after the Uddhav Thackeray govt on Fri. gave its nod for racing special trains from Mumbai (Bombay) to enable the movement of citizens to Konkan for Ganesh Chaturthi, that starts on Aug 22.
This comes as an exception to the existing instructions of the state that don’t allow inter-district train travel.
In a letter released on Fri., Director of Disaster Manager Unit, Abhay Yawalkar, said: “I’m instructed to state here that the special trains maybe planned for the Konkan area for the Ganapati festival in this current yr.. The amount of trains maybe determined according to the insist for the same. A valid affirmed ticket for the same going to service as e-passes.”
Maharashtra(MH) may shortly watch the restart of inter-district train travel after the Uddhav Thackeray govt on Fri. gave its nod for racing special trains from Mumbai (Bombay) to enable the movement of citizens to Konkan for Ganesh Chaturthi, that starts on Aug 22.
This comes as an exception to the existing instructions of the state that don’t allow inter-district train travel.
In a letter released on Fri., Director of Disaster Manager Unit, Abhay Yawalkar, said: “I’m instructed to state here that the special trains maybe planned for the Konkan area for the Ganapati festival in this current yr.. The amount of trains maybe determined according to the insist for the same. A valid affirmed ticket for the same going to service as e-passes.”
Lakhs of citizens from Mumbai (Bombay) & its adjoining regions head to Konkan dists of Ratnagiri & Sindhudurg for the 10-day Ganesh Utsav. With strict constraints enforced on travel amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, multiple citizens from that area had sought relaxations tovisit Konan, where Shiv Sena has a powerful presence.
The state’s nod comes as a reaction to a letter sent by this Central Railway (CR), that had sought the govt’s see, as rail authorities have been getting requests for such trains from people representatives.
“As passengers aren’t permitted to travel across dists within the special trains which were presently being operated, we wanted the state’s see on the insist for special trains for Ganesh festival, as this going to essentially only be inter-district travel,” stated a Sr. CR officer.
Following the govt nod, Central & Western Railway, with Konkan Railway, is set to seek sanction from that Railway Board & subsequently, problem a elaborated timetable of special trains that would be run from Mumbai (Bombay). Chief PRO of CR, Shivaji Sutar, stated: “We’ll shortly problem elaborated info.”
These special trains going to take (2) passengers to Konkan dists & ferry them return to Mumbai (Bombay), stated a govt officer. “No inter-district travel going to be permitted in different trains however only in special trains that going to be run for the festival,” stated the other officer.
The proposal to run special trains comes 3 days after the govt permitted inter-district travel for the festival in private & Maharashtra(MH) State Road Transport Corporation buses from Mumbai (Bombay), Thane & Palghar.
Those traveling in buses were inquired to travel to Konkan latest by Aug 12 & go through a 10-day house isolation before the festival.
The govt had cleared on Thu. that it’ll create a separate portal for issuing e-passes to those opting for travel via private buses.