All GMs may suggest plans to consider to restarting the trains and their modalities
Issues piointed out in Railway Board’s Vedio Conference held with the Zonal GMs on Tuesday 7th April
The meeting has been convened to discuss the strategies to plan the post lockdown period and restart of passenger train operations.
Railways will have to maintain certain level of restrictions to avoid the spread of Covid. There has to be no compromise with regards to this.
Railways need to develop infrastructure especially hospitals and isolation rakes.
After 15th April a call needs to be taken if Railways need to add to the isolation coaches. Next 5000 coaches needs to be identified and be ready for conversion.
Wherever a separate block in hospitals has been given, the blocks must be mutually impermeable. If it is not possible, GMs must review and take a call again. The same to be brought to Railway Board’s notice.
General feeling is that while necessary action will have to be taken towards restrictions, the economic activities of the Nation needs to pick up. A fine balance needs to be struck.
On basis of Covid outbreak, the areas will be segregated into three zones. Red zone where Covid patients are more, yellow for areas where it is controllable and green where there is no infection. This will be dynamically changing. Based on this decision of lifting sporadically will be done.
The industries or sectors may be opened in graded manner, if decided.
Opening of other shops in graded manner in different shifts or places may also be done, if such a decision is taken.
Taking advantage of this period, middle and top level managers and officers may be given some responsibilities.
10-15 bold reforms may be thought about and can be worked upon during this period.
Post lockdown priority areas may be also be planned.
Increase of Railways shares in freight sector can be also thought upon.Railways may also need to rationalise their fares also, in order to attract more and more freight.
Convoy movement of freight trains and increase of time tabled parcel trains may be steps in this direction.
Maintenance of infrastructure and rolling stocks is overdue. How to make up the arrears, calls needs to be taken.
Passenger traffic opening strategy needs to be thought. Controlled entry, screening of passengers and maintaining social distancing in trains needs to be strategized.
Equipments/paramedics/security personnel plans for this may be thought out.
Connecting larger stations and then last mile connectivity may be also thought about.
Railways need to pinpoint all of these and present a full proof case to the authorities for them to take the final call.
Whatever Railways decide, it must be inline with the legal provisions.
State authorities must be involved to control the crowd before reaching the station.
Station security plan presented earlier may now be expanded to all stations for controlled entry-exits. Staggering of passenger trains at different stations in case of bigger cities.
Social distancing at holding areas at stations may also be plan.
Face covers may be made mandatory for all travelers. They may be subjected to thermal screening.
A lot of migrant people/labourers and other passengers may be segregated.
All GMs may suggest plans to consider to restarting the trains, their modalities, other related strategies etc and send it to Railway Board. Long term planning and strategies to maximize Railways’ freight and passenger share may also be shared.
This is huge crisis but Railway will not be baulked down by it and use this problem and covert it into opportunity.
Four suspects of Coronavirus found in Firozpur Division, Northern Railway
Four suspected cases of Coronavirus found in Train no. 12413 up, coach no. S-9 and berth no. 26, 27, 29, 30, 34, PNR No. 2408001131, coach -S/9, seat no. 74, 75, 77, 78, 35 JCO 19/3/2020 Ex. Ajmer and reached Jammu Tavi on 20/03/2020.
Administration has instructed and directed to all the ticket checking, RPF, Electrical and C&W staff who manned this train for Medical checkup in nearest Railway Hospital.
CIT/L/JAT to informed the name of the ticket checking staff to the officer concerned who manned this train.
*As per source msg of Firozpur division, Northern Railway