Lok Sabha Question No. 498 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-16
Subject: Special Trains for Passengers
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Kirron  Kher

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 498 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.09.2020

## SPECIAL TRAINS FOR PASSENGERS

## 498. SHRIMATI KIRRON KHER :

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is planning to start more special trains for transportation of passengers and if so, the details thereof including trains from Chandigarh;
- (b) whether the Government has issued guidelines for safe traveling in the Indian Railways and whether these are publicized enough and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the occupancy rates in the special trains remain low and if so, the action taken by the Government in this regard; and
- (d) the other steps taken by the Ministry to ease movement of the passengers across the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

## (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a) to (d) Train services were started in phases as special trains-
- (i) 15  pairs  of  Rajdhani  specials  were  introduced  with  effect  from 12/05/2020.
- (ii) 100  pairs  of  special  trains  were  introduced  with  effect  from 01/06/2020.
- (iii)
- 43 pairs of special trains were started from 12/09/2020.
- (iv) 705 Suburban services (Central Railway-355 & Western Railway350) were started from 15/06/2020.
- (v) Additional Special trains, in coordination with the State Governments, were also run as per demand for Ganapati festival, and    IIT-JEE/NEET  and  NDA  &  Naval  Academy  examinations conducted by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

Important  provisions  of  Standard  Operating  Protocol  (SOP)  for movement of passengers by trains are as under:-

1. For reserved trains, only reserved tickets are issued and confirmed ticket holder are allowed to enter the Railway Stations.
2. 2.
3. No linen, blankets, curtain is provided.
3. All passengers to reach station at least 90 minutes to two hours in advance.
4. Provision of separate entry and exit gates at Railways Stations to the extent feasible.
5. Provision of Thermal Screening at the Station. Only asymptomatic passengers are permitted to travel.
6. Passengers are advised to wear mask/face cover at Stations and in the train.
7. All passengers are advised to download and use the Aarogya Setu Application.
8. Advised  to  observe  social  distancing  both  at  Station  and  on trains.
9. Advised all passengers on arrival at destination Station to follow the  health  protocol  as  prescribed  by  destination  Station/Union Territories. Whenever  such  instructions  are  issued,  the  same  is  publicized through different media at Ministry/Zonal/Division/Station levels, etc. As  regards  occupancy,  the  pattern  of  occupancy  of  trains  on Indian Railways, including that of special trains, varies across different sectors  and  seasons.  The  occupancy  of  special  trains  operated  from 12.05.2020 onwards is not uniform and it varied on different sectors. However, during the period from 12.05.2020 to 31.08.2020, the average occupancy of these Special trains was approximately 82%. *****