GOM Meet: No Probability of Railways to run After Lockdown2.0
The country is on lockdown phase till May 3rd to prevent coronavirus infection. There’re several rumours of some passenger trains to run post lockdown period. Your expectation can meet disappointment, if you are thinking to travel by train or by air soon after the lockdown ends. The Group of Ministers (GoM) formed for a meet on Coronavirus, is not in favour of running trains immediately after May 3. In view of the threat of Corona, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced to extend the lockdown till May 3. In the meeting of the Group of Ministers (GOM), it was said that PM Modi will take the final decision on the opinion of the Health Ministry in this regard.
GoM meet on Coronavirus: Not in Favour of running Trains
Sources said that in fact, the GoM is not currently in favour of introducing passenger trains as they believe that strict adherence to social distancing in train is not possible. Sources said that the government airline Air India and other private airlines have been asked not to book ticket after May 3rd. This information was given by the officials who attended the meeting of the Group of Ministers on the condition of anonymity.
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PM Modi will take the Final Decision on It
On Saturday, a GOM meeting was held at his house under the chairmanship of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. In the meeting, there was a suggestion that air travel could be started on 15th May. Several ministers including Textiles Minister Smriti Irani, Aviation Minister Hardeep Puri participated in this discussion. However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be made aware of the discussion held in this meeting for the final decision.
It will take a long time in Operating of Transport services
Meanwhile, Air India had said that it has started booking for domestic flights on some routes from May 4 and for selected international flights from June 1st. An official attending the meeting said that no discussion was held on any specific date about when the air and rail journey will begin. Right now, it would be fair to say that it will take a long time. It will definitely extend from May 3.
Special Trains could be run for the Migrant Labourers
Significantly, the second phase of the lockdown will end on May 3. All domestic and international passenger flights have been postponed during the lockdown period. According to sources, the officials said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take the final decision to start the air and rail journey. He also said that there was a suggestion in the meeting that special trains could be run for the migrant labourers trapped in COVID-19 lockdown, which would be non-stop trains. Earlier, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Saturday that airlines are advised to start booking tickets only after the government decides on starting domestic and international passenger flight services.
Service May begin Where there is no threat of corona
In the GOM meeting, the minister agreed to introduce domestic flights. This service will be started in areas where there have not been cases of coronavirus or where there is no risk of spreading the virus. However, the Union Minister is not in a mood to give relief immediately after the lockdown. They do not want traffic to start between states even after the lockdown ends. The GoM is not in favour of starting the movement of trains or public / private transport. PM Modi has already announced that when there will be no danger of corona after April 20, there can be relaxation.
Coronavirus infected cases crossed 17000 in India
Corona infection is increasing in India. On Sunday, the number of infected cases crossed 17,000. According to the ministry, the number of infected cases in the country has reached 17,304. So far 559 people have died due to this epidemic. 2,231 infected people have recovered after treatment. According to the official website of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), a total of 3, 82, 123 samples had been screened till 9 pm on Sunday night. The number of cases of infection has reached 23, 10, 572 worldwide. So far 1, 58, 691 people have died from this epidemic.