Lok Sabha Question No. 234 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-03
Subject: Suspension of Trains due to COVID
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Basanta Kumar Panda, Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh, Kaushalendra Kumar, Anil Firojiya, Dipsinh Shankarsinh Rathod, Sanjay Bhatia, Mohanbhai Kalyanji Kundariya, Sunita Duggal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.234 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.02.2021

## SUSPENSION OF TRAINS DUE TO COVID

†234.    SHRI BASANTA KUMAR PANDA:

SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH:

SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR:

SHRI ANIL FIROJIYA:

SHRI DIPSINH SHANKARSINH RATHOD:

SHRI SANJAY BHATIA:

SHRI MOHANBHAI KALYANJI KUNDARIYA:

SHRIMATI SUNITA DUGGAL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Railways  proposes  to  resume  the  operations  of Mails, Express and passenger trains which were suspended as a measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19;
- (b) whether  all the trains have  been  started with unreserved category coaches;
- (c) if not, the reasons thereof and when the passengers can travel in un-reserved category coaches;
- (d) whether the Government has received any requests from public and various stakeholders for restarting operation of these trains;
- if so, the time by which the Government is likely to re-short the operation  of  the  said  trains  in  view  of  the  problems  faced  by public in commuting while like the transport services like inter Sate  bus  service,  metro  rail  service  and  airline  services,  etc.
- (e) have already been started for along time; and
- (f) the date from which catering services are likely to be resumed in the currently operational special trains?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMERCE & INDUSTRY AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) To  prevent  the  spread  of  COVID-19  pandemic,  Indian  Railways discontinued all regular passenger carrying trains w.e.f. 23 rd  March, 2020 as per the extant guidelines issued by Government of India.  In accordance  with  the  further  guidelines  issued  by  the  Government from time to time, Indian Railways resumed  passenger  train operations w.e.f. 1 st  May, 2020 by operating Shramik special trains followed by operation of Rajdhani Special services w.e.f. 12 th  May, 2020 and other special trains w.e.f 1 st   June,  2020.  The  number  of services  have  been  increased  in  a  phased  manner  and  presently, Indian Railways is operating 1206 Mail/Express Special Trains, 204 Passenger  trains  and  5017  Suburban  Trains.    Additionally,  684 Festival Special are also being operated. (b)  &  (c)  The Special Train services, being operated, have General Class coaches, which are being booked like reserved class coaches, in view of the prevailing pandemic situation and as per the guidelines issued by the Government. (d) & (e) Indian Railways is keeping a close watch on the prevailing situation and is in all readiness to resume regular train operations. Keeping in view the concerns and suggestions of State Governments  to  efficiently  manage  COVID-19  pandemic,  Special trains are being operated currently. (f)  Provision  of  catering  services  in  currently  operational  special trains has been made from the respective date of their resumption. In order to provide safe and hygienic catering services in pandemic time,  provision  of  only  Ready  to  Eat  Meals  (RTE),  packed  items, Packaged  Drinking  Water,  Tea/Coffee/Beverages  in the special trains has been made on payment basis through Pantry Cars,  Train Side  Vending  and  Static  units  at  enroute  station.    In  addition, passengers travelling in trains have the facility to order food of their choice  through  e-Catering  services  which  are  available  at  major stations enroute.

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