COVID-19: Railways Hike Platform Ticket Prices to Discourage Crowding, 76 Trains Cancelled

Railways has cancelled 76 trains as precaution against the spread of coronavirus and due to low occupancy, officials said on Tuesday. It has also issued a set of guidelines to zonal railways for its catering staff stating no employee having fever, cough, runny nose or difficulty in breathing "should be deployed in the business of food handling on Indian Railways".

According to officials, central railways cancelled 23 trains, south central railways cancelled 29 trains, 10 trains were cancelled in western railway zone, 9 in south eastern railway zone and 5 in northern railway zone. The list includes some popular long haul trains.

As a precautionary measure, railway zones like WR and CR have also increased the prices of their platform tickets to discourage large crowds. The Western Railway and Central Railway on March 17 hiked platform ticket rates from the present Rs 10 to upto Rs 50 to discourage unnecessary crowding at stations.

The maximum rate of Rs 50 would be applicable at big stations, officials said.

"#COVID19 preventive measures. Central Railway on its Mumbai, Pune, Bhusaval, and Solapur divisions increased the platform ticket from Rs 10 to Rs 50 till further advice," tweeted Central Railway.

WR authorities also informed that they have hiked platform ticket rates up to Rs 50 and the highest rate will be applicable at big stations such as Mumbai Central. The decision was taken as per the Railway Board's directive.

Also read: Coronavirus Cases Mount to 126, Fresh Cases Reported Across States

The guidelines for hygiene stated, "All staff of catering units should be directed to maintain personal hygiene as per the food safety norms/standards of FSSAI.”

"All staff to wear a facemask and hand gloves, head gear, etc. while dealing with food production and services to passengers, staff be advised to wash their hands with soap frequently, avoid contact with people having cough or cold, avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth, hand gloves to be changed frequently and disposed off in closed dustbin," they added.

It also said that all supervisors deployed in catering establishments be directed to maintain personal hygiene and impart counselling to their subordinates in this regard.

"All staff deployed in food production and services should wash their uniforms on daily basis and wear clean uniforms on duty,” it said.

"Maintenance of proper cleanliness, use of disinfectant on frequently touched objects and surfaces like billing machine, POS machines, coffee machines, counter top, door handles, table, chair, fridge handles, stall frames by using a regular household cleaning spray like Lizol, Dettol, Colin etc," it said, adding, “Adequate provision of hand soap and sanitisers at all catering units must be ensured and intensive/thorough cleaning of all catering units must be done on a daily basis.”

The order stated that proper packaging of food items must be ensured and usage of loose items should be avoided as far as possible.

"Strict prohibition of entry of outsiders/unauthorised people in food dealing area should be ensured. All staff to pay proper attention to advisories/guidelines issued by ministry of health, FSSAI and local health departments of central and state governments from time to time and ensure compliance thereof," the guidelines said.

Also read: Which Country Is Spending How Much to Fight Coronavirus (COVID-19)?