Can Anyone Travel?: Govt issues Guidelines for Passengers as Train Services Resume from Tomorrow

With passenger train services restarting in India from tomorrow, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for movement of persons by trains.

Indian Railways yesterday announced that it was planning to gradually restart passenger train services from May 12. Initially, pairs of 15 trains (30 return journeys) will be run from New Delhi to various cities across the country including Chennai, Bengaluru and Thiruvananthapuram.

Booking for reservation in these trains will start by 4 pm today.

As per the guidelines by MHA, only those passengers with confirmed e-tickets will be allowed to enter the station. All passengers will be compulsarily screened and only asymptomatic ones will be allowed to enter/board the train.

All passengers should be provided with hand sanitizer at entry and exit points at stations and in coaches.

All passengers should wear face covers or masks and maintain social distancing while boarding and travel.

Health advisories will be circulated by the Ministry of Railways through Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaign for their staff and passengers.

On arrival at their destination, all passengers will have to adhere to the health protocols prescribed by the destination State or Union Territory.