Railway meet hints at Centre’s plan of red, green and yellow zones post April 14

Worst-hit areas like Chennai could be classified “red zone” where transport services, especially rail, are not likely to resume until as late as April 30. New Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai and Secunderabad are other major cities in the “red zone” from where no train would start, terminate or even stop, SR sources told DT Next.

These were among the suggestions made when the Railway Board had discussed the post-lockdown scenario with top-level officers of zonal railways via video conference on April 8.

Railway officials, who were apprised by the chairman of the railway board of the trifurcation idea under Centre’s consideration, had also made several suggestions on resumption of service in other areas after April 14. According to the board, the yellow zones could have restricted services while green zones might have zero restriction with regard to number of train services. The officials had also proposed thermal screening at all entry points and disallowing travel of passengers above 60. Likewise, wearing of masks would be made compulsory besides imposition of exemplary fine for passengers who disembark violating rules. At the meeting, officials had also proposed to not permit unreserved travel as it would become difficult to trace and quarantine in case one of the passengers testing positive later. The top-level railway bureaucrats had reasoned that most positive cases were asymptomatic and their screening would be difficult.

Officials, in fact, had recommended cancellation of all scheduled trains in the time table. They had proposed operation of special trains alone. However, they were learnt to have strictly advised against introducing any coaching service in many metro cities (except Kolkata) till April 30 or till the situation improves. Officials had also suggested strict adherence to social distancing rules, which include non-allotment of middle berths in AC tier-III and second sleeper coaches, and non-distribution of food and linen on board trains.

The chairman has also advised zones to plan the special trains they intend to operate with details of originating and terminating stations plus stoppage in consultation with the state governments. A few zones had expressed apprehension about operating inter-state trains and only insisted on running trains within the state.