As Indian Railways will run15 pairs of passenger trains with AC coaches and limited stops from May 12 amid the COVID-19 lockdown, Union Home Ministry Joint Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava on Monday said that passengers with confirmed e-tickets don not need e-pass and they will be allowed to reach Railway Stations without any hassle.

Ministry of Railways has made it mandatory for all passengers to download and use the Aarogya Setu application. No Linen, blankets, and curtains shall be provided inside the train. Passengers will have to carry their own linen for the travel. Addressing a press conference Srivastava said Railways will operate passenger trains from May 12 from New Delhi to 15 stations and the Home Ministry has issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) under the Disaster Management Act for trains’ schedule and booking confirmation or cancellation.

Meanwhile, the Home Ministry Joint Secretary said that Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba has requested states and Union Territories (UTs) to allow movement of doctors, paramedical staff, health workers staff, ambulances, and sanitation personnel as well as provide them security. 

“Passengers with a confirmed e-ticket can come to the Railway Station. They do not need any e-pass. They have to maintain social distancing and face masks are a must to board a train. Only asymptomatic patients will be allowed to board trains. After reaching their destinations, they have to follow all health protocols issued by the Health Ministry in view of the COVID-19 situation.

The Cabinet Secretary has also urged the states and UTs not to allow migrant laborers to move by foot and arrange trains or buses for them. In this regard, the Home Ministry has spoken to Railways and State nodal officers to review special trains arrangements and it was emphasized that daily 100 Shramik trains shall be operated.

Ticket booking counters at the railway stations will remain shut and no counter tickets (including platform tickets) will be issued. Only passengers with valid confirmed tickets will be allowed to enter the railway stations.

Meanwhile, India’s COVID-19 crossed the grim milestone of 70,000 today. The states continued to record over 3,500 fresh coronavirus cases even on Monday. The total number of coronavirus cases in India jumped to 70,756, according to the ministry of health and family welfare. Maharashtra added over 1,000 new cases for the sixth straight day.