BORIVALI

PLATFORM TICKET RATES INCREASED OVER W. RLY FOR BETTER CROWD MANAGEMENT

Western Railway has taken various measures to mitigate the Pandemic Corona Virus Infection

To deal with the Corona Virus outbreak, Indian Railways is taking various steps for the containment of the spread of the disease. In this direction, Western Railway is also taking all possible efforts to contain the spread of this deadly and life threatening disease. Various preventive measures have been taken by W. Rly to counter the spread of this infection in railway premises. o­ne of the recent developments to prevent danger of effects of CORONA virus has been to increase the rate of platform tickets, with a view to restrict & discourage the number of passengers in railway premises including platform and FOBs. The rate of platform tickets has been increased from ₹.10/- to ₹.50 /- at 26 stations of W. Rly’s Mumbai Division with effect from 17/03/2020. These stations are Surat, Bandra (T), Borivali, Udhna, Mumbai Central, Vapi, Dadar, Valsad, Navsari, Andheri, Vasai Road, Boisar, Nandurbar, Bilimora, Amalner, Virar, Palghar, Bandra, Bhayandar, Dahanu Road, Goregaon, Nalasopara, Vyara, Dondaicha, Churchgate and Malad. There will be no change in the rate of platform tickets of rest of the stations. Similarly, the other divisions of W. Rly have also increased the platform ticket rates at select stations from ₹.10/- to ₹.50 /- as a precautionary measure for crowd management.

According to press release issued by Shri Ravinder Bhakar – Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, the interface areas in coaches & at stations such as entrance handrails (In coaches), door handles, toilet door handles & latches, toilet health faucet, water tap, etc. is being cleaned frequently in primary maintenance trains/secondary maintenance trains/ STR examination trains at depot/ platforms, o­nboard by OBHS staff & by CTS staff, using suitable/ recommended disinfectant, at nominated stations. Similarly, electrical switches, charge points frequently touched by customers are also thoroughly cleaned. AC coach attendants have been appropriately counseled to regulate the temperature setting in AC coaches preferably between 24-25 degree Celsius and ensure cleaning of air filters of AC coaches during every primary maintenance. Also, all curtains in AC coaches has been removed and the blankets provided in AC coaches including first AC were withdrawn from service. However, for First AC passengers, blankets with fresh washed covers (separate for UP/ DN directions) may be provided o­n demand. The Linen are been given in sealed packets to passengers and AC linen attendants have been strictly counseled against recirculation of used linen. In addition to this, sufficient additional linen has also been provided o­n train, as a standby. The attendants have been counseled to ensure that open/ loose/ strewn & used linen items should not be stacked up and all curtains & spare blankets to be washed dried and stored in clean, dry storage facility. In addition to above as per Railway Board, info stickers regarding COVID-19 precautions & awareness have been displayed in coaches & across station premises. The awareness messages are been played over in rakes with PA address system. The above measures will be ensured upto 31^st March or till further notice.

******

All best measures to control the pandemic corona virus infection by Western Railway

CONCESSIONAL BOOKING OF RAILWAY TICKETS

SUSPENDED TO DISCOURAGE CROWD IN TRAINS

Air Conditioned EMU Train suspended from 20^thMarch, 2020

Photo Caption : Posters educating people o­n preventive measures to adopt to stop the spread of carona virus put up at railway stations and intensive cleaning being undertaken in EMU trains and mail trains over Western Railway.

To deal with the Corona Virus outbreak, Indian Railways is taking various steps for the containment of the spread of the disease. In this direction, Western Railway is also taking all best possible efforts to contain the spread of this deadly and life threatening disease.

             According to press release issued by Shri Ravinder Bhakar – Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, all 12 services of the air conditioned EMU local trainon Mumbai Suburban section have been suspended w.e.f20^th March, 2020upto 31^st March, 2020. However, there will be no change in the total number of services being run, as these AC locals are being replaced by the regular non-AC trains. Hoardings regarding preventive measures to be adopted o­n the spread of corona virus have been installed at Charni Rd., Mahalaxmi, Dadar, Bandra ROB, Santacruz, Vile Parle, Andheri, Goregaon, Malad, Borivali, Vasai Rd and Virar stations. Vinyl wrapping of two EMU rakes is being done for awareness in suburban area. Spraying of Lizol disinfectant o­n grab poles, grab handles, SS partition, window grills, electrical switches and end panels is being done in all EMUs o­n daily basis. To discourage unnecessary travel and to prevent vulnerable category of senior citizens from undertaking unnecessary travels, concessional booking of all tickets except patients, students and divyangjan category for unreserved and reserved segment are being suspended from 00.00 hrs of 20^th March, 2020 till further advisory. Continuous announcements at 228 stations of WR, wherever PA system is available are being made regarding precautions to be taken to prevent the spread of COVID 19. Posters and banners have been displayed conspicuously at 351 major stations. Stickers regarding COVID-19 precautions & awareness are displayed in all coaches and audio messages are being played in rakes with PA system like Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains). Information is also being disseminated through LCD/LED screens at stations. The frontline staff like the ticket checking staff, booking clerks etc have been provided with masks for their protection. All the coaches o­n all starting stations of WR are being thoroughly cleaned by using recommended disinfectant. In addition, o­n board cleaning staff have been counseled to increase the frequency of cleaning and sanitizing areas of mass contact e.g. switches, door handles, latches, taps, railings etc.  All dustbins provided in coaches are being thoroughly cleaned. Intensive cleaning of toilets, including wash basins, toilet seats are being done during depot maintenance as well as o­n board. Availability of liquid soap and water in toilets of coaches and pantry cars is being ensured at the start of journey as well as during run. Curtains in AC coaches have been removed and blankets have been withdrawn. Bulk SMSes are being sent to apprise passengers regarding carrying their own blankets. AC coach attendants have been appropriately counseled to regulate the temperature setting in AC coaches preferably between 24-25 degree celsius and ensure cleaning of air filters of AC coaches during every primary maintenance. The Linen are been given in sealed packets to passengers and AC linen attendants have been strictly counseled against recirculation of used linen. In addition to this, sufficient additional linen has also been provided o­n train, as a standby. Catering staff are using masks and hand gloves while dealing with passengers. They have also been instructed to ensure hygiene and frequent cleaning of catering units. As a measure towards the concept of social distancing, trains with low occupancy are being cancelled. So far 155 pairs of low occupancy trains over Indian Railways have been cancelled upto 31^stMarch 2020. Trains are cancelled keeping in view the availability of alternate trains for passengers and ensuring that no passenger shall remain stranded . Full refund is being given to all the passengers of the cancelled trains. Indian Railways has also facilitated return of students stranded in Northern part of country due to sudden closure of educational institutions to their homes in other parts of the country. To restrict and discourage number of people in railway premises at selected big stations over W.Rly, the rate of platform tickets has been increased from Rs.10 to Rs.50/- as a precautionary measure for crowd management.

             Medical and Commercial frontline staff have been trained to extend all possible help to the passengers. They are provided with information about State, District & Railway medical facilities and helpline numbers. Medical emergency calls o­n Corona is being manned 24x7 and these calls are being handled with sincerity and alacrity. 1005 quarantine beds, 75 isolation beds have been arranged in 7 hospitals o­n Western Railway. The facility of offering the 7 railway hospitals to general public will be done after assessment by the State/Municipal Health Authorities. PPE (Mask, gown, goggle, shoe cover) have been stocked in all hospitals. Frontline staff have been sensitized to recommend people with symptoms and refer them for further testing at nominated hospitals. The contact number of local health authorities has been displayed at prominent places. The Municipal Corporation of Mumbai have submitted the list of foreign returned passengers to railways,which has been circulated to all stations. These passengers are prohibited from boarding the train, and in case they have boarded the train, they will be asked to alight at the next station. Zonal control room of W. Rly has been set up at Jagjivan Ram Hospital at Mumbai Central with contact numbers 022- 23080755, 022-67643200, 022-67643300 and the Whatsapp number of Medical Officer for Zone and JRH is – 9004490560. The staff and Doctors manning these isolation wards have been provided personal protection gears, masks and gloves with adequate sanitizers for infection control. Awareness audio and video clippings are being played in local trains, stations and hospitals.

********